Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is safe — LUTH CMD

The Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Chris Bode on Wednesday described as “an over abundance of caution” the ongoing safety issue on the Oxford/Astrazeneca Vaccine.

Our Correspondent reports that some European countries such as Norway, Spain and Germany recently suspended the usage of the Oxford/Astrazeneca over of blood clot fears.

However, the World Health Organisation and the European Medicines Agency have insisted that the AstraZeneca shot is safe, and that there was no link between it and reported blood clots.

Bode told our Correspondent in an interview that the suspension of the vaccine had some political undertone.

“The halt or suspension of Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine over safety concern is an over abundance of caution when scientists outweigh that decision.

“As of today, the ongoing safety concern is said to be more political than scientific.

“For example, if you give a cup of water to 2 million people, some people will choke on that water.

“Does it mean people should not drink water again because few people among them choke while taking water?

“So in situations like this, we use scientific judgement to weigh such decision on safety,” he said.

Nigeria took delivery of 3.92 million doses of the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine on March 2, delivered under the international COVAX scheme.