Global clampdown on the unvaccinated

It has been observed that there have been concerns over a worldwide clampdown on the unvaccinated, waning COVID-19 vaccine immunity after six months of the administration of the vaccine.

Reports also have it that developed nations like United Kingdom (U.K.) and United States (U.S.) have said that people that were vaccinated in Africa would be considered as unvaccinated.

The scenario has raised questions: What are the implications and possibilities in Nigeria? What about the possibility that the vaccines are not sufficient?

A consultant virologist and chairman, Expert Review Committee on COVID-19, Prof. Oyewale Tomori spoke on the issue, saying “Those Nigerians wishing to travel outside the country must get vaccinated, with vaccines approved by the country of their destination. For those receiving ‘unapproved’ vaccines, the hope is that the country of their destination will eventually approve the vaccine they took. As for us, in Nigeria, before the government starts clamping down on people and restricting their movement, the government must first ensure the availability of and access to the vaccine. Certainly, you cannot receive what you do not have.”

Tomori, who was the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, said the issue of waning immunity is not new. “This is normal. This is why we get boosters- immunity against yellow fever is a good example. For COVID-19 it is an evolving issue, and there is no definitive conclusion because the vaccine has been around for less than two years,” he said.

On reports that COVID-19 vaccine immunity lasts for six months, Tomori said: “It may probably last longer. We only have interpretation based on available time-limited information.”

He said the UK and their respective national regulatory authorities are within their rights to endorse only the vaccines approved by the US. “The vaccines they are using have been approved by their national regulatory authorities. The ones we are using are not. Therefore either we stay at home and avoid travelling to those countries or get ready to abide by the rules and guidelines for unvaccinated people. In the alternative, we get the manufacturers of the vaccine we use to get the approval of the UK and US regulatory authorities,” Tomori said.

A public health physician and member of Lagos State COVID-19 containment team, Prof. Akin Osibogun, told The Guardian: “I will advise that all countries follow the science and once the vaccine production protocol in any country meets global best practices, those who receive such vaccines should not be discriminated against. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other responsible global agencies should monitor for enforcement of standards. Vaccine politics should be reduced as much as possible.”