Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Professor of immunology, Idris Mohammed, says there is no drug or vaccine that is 100 percent safe.
He noted that the Astrazeneca vaccine for COVID-19 is 70 percent safe, and that the opposition to the vaccine is triggered by politics, rather than scientific scrutiny.
Mohammed, who was Gombe task force chairman on coronavirus, stated this on Wednesday during the launch of 71,340 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the state.
He said, “This will show people that this vaccine is safe and effective. I said so because there are stories here and there that have been raising some concerns in the minds of some people.
“We realised that some people might express doubts about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. In this case, let me say we are between the devil and the deep blue sea.
“There is no way we can reject this vaccine without serious damage to the health of the people caused by COVID-19.
“I’m aware of some of the reported complications from abroad, but I want to emphasize that the objections are not based on science but on politics. Even where the side effects have been reported, there is no direct link to prove that the vaccine caused it.
“For the scenarios of blood clot, it is politics coming to challenge science without proof. Those making allegations need to provide evidence for what they are alleging. I have seen no such evidence so far.”
While assuring on the level of effectiveness, he revealed that no vaccine has 100 percent accuracy.
“I stand here to assure you in my capacity as a doctor that the vaccine is safe and efficacious.
“There is no drug or vaccine that is 100 percent safe. People have died on account of taking paracetamol.
“When we see our leaders willingly taking the vaccine, we must be assured of its safety. With any new drug for that matter, we expect to have few side effects. You may have slight headache after vaccination, but it will disappear.
“The efficacy of Astrazeneca vaccine is high by 70 percent if you compare it with the three other COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved so far.
“The Pfizer brand is about 94 percent effective, but that doesn’t take away anything from the effectiveness of AstraZeneca vaccine because one a vaccine is over 60 percent effective, it is enough to protect you from the disease,” Mohammed added.
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