The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has denied allegations that foreign organizations have recommended vaccination for Nigerian children that includes 40% mercury.
The agency announced this in a press release that was signed by Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, its Director General, and made accessible to The PUNCH on Sunday by Sayo Akintola, the agency’s resident media consultant.
There have been claims in various media outlets claiming that multi-dose vaccines with 40% mercury, which were prohibited in Europe and the United States more than 20 years ago, are still being given to Nigerian youngsters.
Mercury is not used as an element or as a component of vaccinations, according to NAFDAC, which also claimed that it is a metal.
Antigens, adjuvants to enhance immune response, antibiotics to prevent contamination during manufacture, preservatives, and stabilizers were listed as the fundamental elements of vaccinations.
They went on to say that other expert organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the British Committee on Safety of Medicines, the United States Institute of Medicine, and the European Agency for Evaluation of Medicinal Products, had also reached similar conclusions.
They added that before any human vaccines can be used in Nigeria, NAFDAC follows WHO-approved protocol and issues lot release certificates after laboratory analysis and summary lot protocol assessment.
