The Global Prolife Alliance (GPA) has petitioned the National Assembly (NASS) through Senate President Godswill Akpabio, over what it called “urgent concerns regarding malaria vaccine safety and ethics.”
In the letter signed by its chairman, Dr Philip Njemanze, the group stated: “We write to bring to your attention critical information regarding the recent introduction of the malaria vaccine as routine immunization in the Republic of Cameroon. The discussions surrounding the adoption of routine malaria vaccination in other African countries, including Nigeria, necessitate a precautionary approach to ensure safety and the strict observance of ethical standards related to parental informed consent.”
Going into the background, the group noted that in the early 2000s a malaria vaccine developed by a British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company and funded by an international donor organization became the first malaria vaccine tested in large clinical studies.
The GPA said: “while the trials demonstrated a reduction in clinical malaria in children and infants, it is crucial to note that vaccine efficacy declined over time.
“Recent data from clinical trials associated the vaccine with increased risks, including an elevated risk of clinical malaria after four years; a tenfold increased risk of cerebral meningitis; an increased risk of cerebral malaria; and a higher risk of death, especially among female children.”
According to the group, the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the vaccine “based on the initial two years of a four-year pilot study, and concerns have been raised about the transparency of WHO regarding vaccine safety. Notably, cerebral malaria and female mortality were more pronounced after the booster dose at 20 months. Investigators have suggest that, by shortening the follow-up to two years, WHO zoomed in on this period with maximum benefits against malaria and minimum harms in terms of female mortality.
“Of significant concern is the violation of the right to informed consent, as outlined in a 2014 WHO policy document. The ‘implied consent process’ raises questions about whether parents are adequately informed and have given explicit consent for their children’s vaccination.
“We, as Nigerians and concerned citizens, are alarmed by the WHO’s push for increasing childhood vaccinations without sufficient consideration of scientific evidence suggesting a precautionary approach and respect for individual rights to informed consent. We urge the National Assembly to address these concerns, particularly regarding WHO’s experimentation on African children without proper informed parental consent, which poses threats to children’s health and fundamental human rights guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your oversight function to ensure the health and rights of the people of Nigeria.”
The group attached research reports to support its position.
Copies of the petition were also sent to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives; IGP, ministers, Bishop Conferences in Africa, Europe, Asia and America and Head of States of all UN member countries, among