AstraZeneca vaccine: Nigeria probes blood clotting side effects

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) is investigating the blood clotting in some persons who received the first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Director General, Chikwe Ihekweazu, spoke to the press at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing.

On Tuesday, the European Medicines Agency announced there’s a causal link between AstraZeneca’s jab and rare blood clots.

Marco Cavaleri, Head of Health Threats and Vaccine Strategy, told Rome’s Il Messaggero newspaper that a definitive statement will be released this week.

Ihekweazu said the government was aware of the blood clotting in individuals in Europe.

“Those investigations are still ongoing. Not all European countries are adopting the vaccines for their populations,” he said.

The DG assured that Nigeria has a system to measure and monitor any side effects.

Ihekweazu said the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) are on top of the situation.

“Actions will be taken after data and circumstances are fully evaluated,” the NCDC chief added.