Russian Sputnik vaccine beneficiaries may be barred from Europe –Virologist
A medical virologist at Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Dr. Oladipo Kolawole, has said people vaccinated with the Russian Sputnik vaccine may not be allowed to enter European countries.
Dr. Oladipo Kolawole said in an interview that, European Medicines Agency has not enlisted the Russian Sputnik vaccine.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control had announced the conditional approval of Russian Sputnik vaccine on Thursday.
The approval is coming after the World Health Organisation, the European Union and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund expressed concerns over the vaccine.
“The vaccine produces a moderate immune response against aggressive new mutations of the coronavirus such as the Delta variant.
“Another challenge, for now, is that the vaccine has not been enlisted by EMA, which will make it difficult to enter European countries if vaccinated with it. But if there is the possibility of such, it is a good idea.
“The WHO and UNICEF have expressed concern over the data integrity and quality control of the vaccine production which is of great concern. These are some of the factors to consider,” Kolawole said.
UNICEF in a statement said the procurement of the Sputnik vaccine would be under the condition of the product achieving an Emergency Use Listing from WHO, to confirm the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
However, the NAFDAC DG added that despite the vaccine not getting approval from the WHO, the agency had done a thorough assessment of the vaccine.
She said, “Sputnik V has yet to receive the EUL approval and therefore was subjected to a full six-month review by NAFDAC. The agency was granted access to the dossiers and prior assessment reports of Moderna and AstraZeneca from the WHO website at different times over the past two months.
The agency did a thorough assessment of each vaccine and was found to have the quality, safety and efficacy attributes, with the benefits far outweighing the risks.
READ ALSO: Algeria to start Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine production
Kamila/Punch
