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General News of Friday, 15 January 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

NAFDAC must approve vaccines before use - DG

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Contr Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Contr

The Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has cautioned Nigerians to avoid any vaccine not certified by the authorities.

At a press briefing on Friday, January 15, 2021, Adeyeye stated that approval from the World Health Organisation was insufficient and citizens should endevour to seek the certified regulatory agencies in the country before consumption.

“The WHO will say that unless the regulatory agency of a country approves a vaccine, it should not be used. WHO is not a regulatory agency that will approve and say use, they are there to guide and give regulatory agencies more confidence.

“If a product is already on WHO emergency use listing, the regulatory agency will still look at the application. That doesn’t mean we just pass it like that, we will have to read it within the context of our environment. No vaccine or commodity can be used unless it passes through NAFDAC in Nigeria," she said.

The Director-General also warned companies and institutions not to order the coronavirus vaccines without approval from NAFDAC, especially companies with the intention to reproduce the vaccine in the country.

“Vaccines should not be ordered by any company or corporation. The companies that manufacture the vaccines if they are genuine companies know they have to submit their application to NAFDAC.

“No government establishment or agencies should order COVID-19 vaccines without confirming from NAFDAC if the vaccine has been approved.”

Madam Adeyeye was of the view that discussions are currently ongoing with applicants interested in manufacturing the COVID-19 vaccines on the Emergency Use Authorisation, registration or licensing of their product.

“The agency assures applicants that if phase three clinical data are very convincing and robust with regards to safety and efficacy and the vaccine has been submitted for WHO for Emergency Use Listing, NAFDAC will welcome the application for Emergency Use Authorisation in Nigeria,” Adeyeye said.