Governors Back Use Of AstraZeneca Vaccine
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has backed the continued use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, amid concerns about its safety.
This followed an earlier defence of the vaccine by the Federal Government, even as Kano residents are reluctant to take the jab.
Rising from its 28th Emergency Teleconference Meeting, the governors, who reiterated their belief in the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccines, said that as state executives, they are committed to continuously encourage use of the vaccines by all eligible persons in their states.
In a communiqué signed at the end of the meeting by the NGF Chairman and Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the governors urged Nigerians to remain calm and report any adverse events noticed following COVID-19 vaccination.
However, the governors’ meeting was silent on the burning issue of petrol subsidy, which had earlier been announced as part of the agenda for the meeting.
Head of Media and Public Affairs at NGF Secretariat, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, had on Tuesday disclosed that the emergency meeting of the state chief executives would be held virtually to deliberate on the report of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, who is the Chairman of NGF Committee on Subsidy on Petrol. El-Rufai was expected to brief his colleagues before any decisions on the supply and or retailing of the product would be taken.
But in the 11-paragraph communiqué issued after the meeting, only the last paragraph made a scant reference to the petroleum sector where it stated: “Lastly, the NGF received a presentation on the 2018 audited accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum.
Corporation (NNPC) from the Facility for Oil Sector Transparency and Reform (FOSTER) led by its team lead, Mr Henry Adigun. The Forum welcomed the fiduciary risk assessment of the corporation. The additional information will support the work of state governments in engaging with the federal government to improve the governance arrangement of the oil industry.”
Governors of Ekiti, Bayelsa, Ondo, Delta, Kwara, Katsina and Plateau states were among those present at the virtual meeting, while governors of Nasarawa and Enugu states were represented by the deputies.
The Federal Government had earlier in the week said it was going to consult widely before halting subsidy on petrol. Reiterating its decision not to hike the pump price of petrol in March, NNPC had insisted it would maintain the current rate of N162 per litre throughout the month of March, signifying the return of subsidy.
Going by the recent pricing template for the commodity, it was gathered that NNPC might spend about N102.96 billion on petrol subsidy. While Nigeria consumes about 57.44 million litres of petrol daily, the actual depot/landing cost for the product is N206.42 per litre but NNPC sells the commodity at an ex-depot price of N148.6 per litre.
This has heightened expectations of a possible increase of the pump price of petrol early next month owing to the position the governors would take on fuel subsidy. After yesterday’s meeting, the waiting game continues until government’s next move.
Fayemi said the governors’ decision to support the vaccine was reached after the recommendation of Prof. Oyewale Tomori, chairman of the COVID-19 Technical advisory group (CTAG).
“The Forum’s COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group (CTAG) led by Prof. Oyewale Tomori briefed members on the status of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out across the states, including the increasing concerns of the public on the safety of AstraZeneca vaccines.
“CTAG recommended that Nigeria should continue to vaccinate all eligible persons with the AstraZeneca vaccine in line with the latest WHO recommendations as available evidence, including findings from research in which some CTAG members are involved, shows that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe.”
OVER the past few weeks, many European countries had suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over a possible link to blood clots. A review by the European Union (EU’s) medicines regulator has concluded that the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is “safe and effective”. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) investigated after 13 EU states suspended use of the vaccine over fears of a link to blood clots. It found the jab was “not associated” with a higher risk of clots.
Italy announced it would resume using the jab today while Sweden said it needed a “few days” to decide.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday called on countries to continue using the vaccine, and is due to release the results of its own review into the vaccine’s safety today.
The agency’s investigation focused on a small number of cases of unusual blood disorders. In particular, it was looking at cases of cerebral venous thrombosis – blood clots in the head.