By David Onimisi Lawani
Ujam Ogechukuwu Stella, Lawyer
First of all, the government should have test run the AstraZeneca vaccine to know whether it is effective, because I have heard that it is causing blood-clotting in some people. But these vaccines have been brought into Nigeria and they are just being administered straight away without a close look. I think the government should stop it or suspend it for now and ensure that the people who have taken it are not reacting to them negatively. They must first make sure it is not having an adverse effect on citizens.
Once the vaccine is certified good, they can continue to administer it on others. But, if they notice that people are reacting negatively to it, I will suggest it should be stopped. If it is possible, we can go for a more effective variant. I think the government didn’t do their homework properly. You cannot force the vaccine down people’s throat. It should be a thing of choice. It is not something we should be seen dragging over. Life is too important to be wasted on unverifiable vaccines. Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past.
Edetaen Ojo,Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
When the conversation about the vaccine began, we were informed that there would be a process by which NAFDAC would test the vaccines to ensure that they are not harmful or have any side effects on Nigerians. I think it is important for us to know whether NAFDAC has done that and what their findings were. At the moment, we don’t have any information about any negative effect of the vaccines on Nigerians, possibly because the number of people that have been vaccinated is so small or insignificant. And yet, it is to be used on the general population, except for senior government officials. I think for the moment what we need to rely on is that any test from NAFDAC will be good. But in the absence of none, I think we need information from those who have been vaccinated to find out whether there has been any negative effect.
I think it will be rash to simply discontinue the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine if NAFDAC has not found anything wrong with it. Nobody who has been vaccinated in Nigeria has had any reaction. I don’t think we should act with such rashness. Sometimes drugs have an effect, depending on other factors. It may well be as a result of environmental factors in Europe. As far as I am aware of, it is not yet reported in the USA that similar experiences to have occurred. This appears to be mostly in Europe. I think we have to do our own testing to be sure that it is safe for Nigerians and then act accordingly.
Botti Isaac, a Development Practitioner
‘’My view on the vaccine, AstraZeneca suspension globally and still being administered in Nigeria. I think that the Nigerian government should threaten with caution considering that developed nations have the wherewithal and the expertise, scientific knowledge of these issues is taking that same caution.
Or being careful of administering drugs that can jeopardize the future of generations. If that is happening over there, I think in Nigeria we should be more careful particularly that we do not have the same capacity or wherewithal or expertise as these European nations in tackling this covid-19 menace.
We want to be on a safer side by putting the lives of our citizens well ahead of whatever plans the government may have. It is not just about following the crowd because other nations are administering the vaccines then we should also do it. It is about doing the right thing the right way. A responsible government is one that puts the lives of its citizens as a priority. And, do everything to protect that regardless of what the situation might be outside. If the situation is going to be detrimental to the health of Nigerians, the government should sit back and not follow the crowd in administering it.
It is about a year now. We have been managing the situation. What is the point of hurrying into administering the vaccines when there are serious issues surrounding them? It is a pity that we have not shown enough patience because if we had, we would have known that there is a particular one that the world is using that has been endorsed for the world to use. The world health organization, WTO, also has the endorsement of this particular one and I see no reason why they didn’t go for it. But, with this one on the ground, I think the Nigerian government has to be careful and not be in hurry to want to follow the crowd doing what they are doing. Rather let us playback and see what will benefit the nation in the long run. Not taking immediate action just to show that we are working. It should not be like that. We want something that will really impact on the lives of the people, not the one that will be causing more havoc to the society’’.
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Onyinye Onwumere, Civil Society Activist
“My opinion over the AstraZeneca vaccine being rejected in other countries while Nigeria is bent on continuing with it is that I think the side effects should be thoroughly examined here before they are administered to the citizens. Because we don’t want another case where another mass death that the virus has caused. Or only for the supposed cure to cause mass death.
We must have to take precautions in whatever we are doing. we must not follow everything sheepishly. We should rise above the board. We are talking of health here. I believed that NCDC should work with the appropriate authorities to ensure the side effect are minimal. And, they are safe for use for Nigerian citizens.
There should be more efforts deployed to ensure the vaccines meet standards before they are allowed. If after using we start experiencing the defaults, I don’t think that should be encouraged by all standards.
We must always show concern for the health of every citizen like other countries is doing. The education on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine is still very low. And, this must not be supported. We are tired of the government’s attitude to national issues of this magnitude. Let the government act for the good of all. A healthy nation is a wealthy one according to the saying.
Omeiza Ogumah, Public Affairs Commentator
“Vaccines are meant for preventive purposes but if there controversy over the vaccine’s risks outweighing its benefits, then Wisdom demands a halt in the Vaccination. Behold any responsible and responsive Government will disengage administering such vaccine except if there are ulterior motives for persisting in such public health jeopardy. In fact, the European health ministers and European Medicines Agency(EMA) recently expressed concerns about the health risks & future of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. A growing number of countries (Germany, Spain, France, Italy, etc) have suspended use of AstraZeneca Vaccine, in order to examine reported side effects.
On Tuesday, March 16th, French Industry Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said ”We cannot afford a single doubt over the vaccines efficiency,”*
And since the Europeans are obviously more advanced in health than Nigeria, if in their wisdom they have cause to discontinue vaccination even in the face of Covid19 Pandemic, then the Nigerian govt should dis-continue AstraZeneca vaccine. A stitch in time saves nine”.
