NAFDAC approves Moderna, Sputnik coronavirus vaccines for use

Coronavirus vaccines, Moderna and the Sputnik V have been approved for emergency use by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for use in Nigeria.

This was made known by Professor Moji Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC in a news conference on Thursday, July 15, 2021.

She explained that although Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has not yet been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the health agency had carried out independent checks on the vaccine and concluded that the benefits outweigh the risks.

DAILY POST recalls that this is coming less than 10 days after Adeyeye said that the WHO is screening the agency for a permit to produce COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria.

Represented by Mr Fori Tatama, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Adeyeye vowed that health, safety and environment-based issues were taken seriously by NAFDAC.

She said, “The WHO is carrying out an audit of NAFDAC, which will enable the country to start manufacturing vaccines; the programme started on Monday and will last till Friday.”