Covid-19 Vaccine objections are not based on science but objections are based on politics
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
A Professor of Immunology, Idris Mohammed, has said the Astrazeneca vaccine is 70 percent safe.
He said the opposition to the vaccine is triggered by politics, adding that they have not been subjected to scientific scrutiny.
Mohammed who was Gombe State task force chairman on Coronavirus, made this disclosure 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 in a situation where people are not certain some people may experience some 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 reemphasize that the objections are not based on science but objections based on politics even where the side effects have been reported shows there is no different links to show 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; ordinary paracetamol and aspirin we take people have dropped dead from taking paracetamol, especially when we see our leadership willingly accepting the vaccine we must remain assured. With any new drug for that matter we expect to have few side effects. You may have slight headache, but will disappear.
“The efficacy of Astrazeneca vaccine is high by 70 percent if you compare it with the three that have been approved so far it is slightly less the one by Pfizer is about 94 percent effective but that doesn’t take away anything from the effectiveness because one a vaccine is over 60 percent effective it is enough to protect you from the disease,” Mohammed, Professor of Immunologist added.
