Nigeria’s drug regulation body has approved the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in the country.
In a press briefing, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it got the dossier of the vaccine a week ago, and its safety committee went to work immediately to evaluate its safety and efficacy for Nigerians.
The vaccine, which is a leading choice for the developing world, was recently approved by the World Health Organisation for emergency use.
Last week, Africa’s viral epicenter, South Africa, jettisoned the use of the vaccine after tests showed the shot offered less protection against mild infection caused by the new strain that was first identified in the country and has since spread across southern Africa and elsewhere.
Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million people, has recorded 149,000 coronavirus cases with 1,787 deaths.
Rita Osakwe