Why COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Administered Without Clinical Trial — NAFDAC

The National Agency for food and drug administration, NAFDAC,
has said the planned roll-out of coronavirus vaccines in Nigeria,
expected to begin in January will not be subjected to fresh
clinical trials before they are administered to citizens.

The spokesman of the agency, Sayo Akintola, who made this known
during an interview with newsmen said local trials for the vaccine
were unnecessary since the vaccine was already certified by the
World Health Organisation.

“The truth is that once a vaccine is approved by the WHO, it is
assumed that it has passed through some preliminary stages of the
trial.

“It is a known fact that for the WHO to sanction a vaccine, it
must have gone through a series of trials here and there,” he
said.

He, however, explained that a sample of the vaccine will be
taken to the lab for its “safety and efficacy” to be ascertained
before inoculation.

Recall that the Nigeria Medical Association had asked the
federal government to do its evaluation of the COVID-19 vaccine
before administering it on Nigerians.

But with NAFDAC’s position, Nigeria’s health authorities may
very well proceed with vaccinations, trusting WHO’s expertise.

If the vaccine eventually arrives in the country, about 40
million Nigerians may receive it for free.

This is as earlier disclosed by the Presidential Taskforce on
COVID-19, following President Buhari’s directive to proceed with
procurement arrangements.

The National Agency for food and drug administration, NAFDAC,
has said the planned roll-out of coronavirus vaccines in Nigeria,
expected to begin in January will not be subjected to fresh
clinical trials before they are administered to citizens.

The spokesman of the agency, Sayo Akintola, who made this known
during an interview with newsmen said local trials for the vaccine
were unnecessary since the vaccine was already certified by the
World Health Organisation.

“The truth is that once a vaccine is approved by the WHO, it is
assumed that it has passed through some preliminary stages of the
trial.

“It is a known fact that for the WHO to sanction a vaccine, it
must have gone through a series of trials here and there,” he
said.

He, however, explained that a sample of the vaccine will be
taken to the lab for its “safety and efficacy” to be ascertained
before inoculation.

Recall that the Nigeria Medical Association had asked the
federal government to do its evaluation of the COVID-19 vaccine
before administering it on Nigerians.

But with NAFDAC’s position, Nigeria’s health authorities may
very well proceed with vaccinations, trusting WHO’s expertise.

If the vaccine eventually arrives in the country, about 40
million Nigerians may receive it for free.

This is as earlier disclosed by the Presidential Taskforce on
COVID-19, following President Buhari’s directive to proceed with
procurement arrangements.