NAFDAC debunks report over presence of Mercury Vaccines in Nigeria
By Adenike Agunsoye
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Controls (NAFDAC), has debunked news report over the presence of Mercury Vaccine in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement signed by Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made available to Nigerian NewsDirect yesterday.
Prof. Mojisola explained that Mercury is a metal which can’t be use as an element or component for vaccines.
She stressed that the basic component of vaccines are antigen, adjuvants among others which improve immune response, antibiotics to prevent contamination during manufacturing, preservatives, and stabilizers.
According to her, she narrated that World Health Organisations (WHO), monitored the scientific evidence relating to the use of thimerosal as a vaccine preservation for over 10 years.
In her words, “Thimerosal a mercuric compound which is a preservative used in multi dose vaccines contains a different form of mercury called ethyl mercury.
“As a vaccine preservative, thimerosal is used in concentrations of 0.003 per cent to 0.01 per cent, (for example, thimerosal content allowed in vaccine is between 30 parts to maximum of 10o parts out of million parts of the vaccine formula).
“Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative that has been used for decades in the United States in multi-dose vials (vials containing more than one dose) of medicines and vaccines. There is no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site.
“However, in July 1999, the Public Health Service agencies, the American Academy of Paediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure.
“Nigeria still receives some multi-dose vaccines which contains thimerosal but at accepted concentration.
“World health Organisation has not proscribed the use of thimerosal as an inactivating agent and preservative in vaccines as there is lack of evidence that thimerosal present risk to human health,” she noted
However, she said NAFDAC follows WHO protocol on issuing release certificates before human vaccines can be used in the country.
NAFDAC follows WHO approved protocol before issuing out lot release certificates before any human vaccines can be used in Nigeria, which is done after laboratory analysis and summary lot protocol review” she concluded.
