Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
The Federal Government has said a media report raising doubt on the propriety of using the four million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines donated by the U.S. is “fake, baseless and irresponsible’’
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, said contrary to the speculations in the report, the Moderna vaccine was safe, approved by the World Health Organisation and being administered globally.
He said the suspicion that the country was being made a testing ground and Nigerians being guinea pigs for testing the vaccine was “baseless, unscientific and deliberate attempt to dissuade people from taking it’’.
“Nigerians are extremely futile in imagination. They will make statements that are baseless and not proved by science”.
“Those who are saying this, is Nigeria the only country where Moderna vaccine is being administered? the answer is No”.
“They should stop this nonsense, because this kind of fake news is capable of discouraging people from taking the vaccine,’’ he said.
The minister, a member of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, urged Nigerians not to be dissuaded by the rumours, disinformation and fake news on COVID-19 and the vaccines.
He said the vaccine was not harmful but meant to save life and Nigerians should come out to take it when the second batch is rolled out on Aug. 16.
The minister added that those travelling to and from restricted or non-restricted countries should submit themselves for necessary protocols.
He appealed to the media, religious leaders, traditional rulers and other influential personalities to join the PSC in sensitising the public to the fact that all the vaccines had been approved by WHO and safe for use.
Alhaji Mohammed also called on the state governments to reactivate their structures in the enforcement of COVID-19 protocols.