The Africa Centre for Disease Control has disclosed that it is reviewing the usage of the AstraZeneca vaccine which is being used in Africa for Covid-19 vaccinations under the COVAX programme.
This was disclosed by John Nkengasong, Director of Africa CDC in an interview with Bloomberg after reports emerged of European countries placing a pause on AstraZeneca vaccines due to reports of blood clots.
“The AstraZeneca vaccine was seen to be safe and efficacious and we would need to review the data. We should guide the response with strong science and evidence,” Nkengasong said.
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“The Africa CDC will be convening an emergency meeting this afternoon with all the experts across the continent to look at the data and what we know, and then to provide appropriate guidance to the continent,” he added.
On using the vaccines to slow the spread of the pandemic, the Africa CDC boss warned that it could take Africa 5 years to end the pandemic if vaccination pace remains slow citing that if Africa “vaccinates at least 60% of our population in the next two years, then this pandemic will be over”.
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What you should know
- Nairametrics reported that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency disclosed that it has not received any official report of serious adverse effects from any of those who have been vaccinated.
- Ireland has suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over fears of alleged post-jab blood.
- Germany, France and Italy announced on Monday they would suspend AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine disbursement after multiple countries reported possible serious side-effects. However, the WHO said there was no proven link and people should not panic.
