NAFDAC Joins £3.7m Global Project to Combat Fake Vaccines

Nigeria's fight against counterfeit and substandard vaccines has gained significant international support with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) joining a £3.7 million global research consortium. This three-year initiative, funded by the UK's Medical Research Council, focuses on developing and validating advanced technologies to identify compromised vaccines before they reach the public.

The project, spearheaded by the University of Oxford's Medicine Quality Research Group, involves a collaboration of leading institutions, including Obafemi Awolowo University, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the University of East London, and the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit in Thailand. Its primary goal is to bolster Nigeria's post-marketing vaccine surveillance system through the evaluation of innovative screening devices, expansion of routine laboratory testing, and health economics studies to ensure cost-effective quality monitoring.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, emphasized that the partnership underscores the agency's dedication to public health through scientific advancement, innovation, and international cooperation. "This initiative aligns with NAFDAC’s commitment to protecting public health through science-driven regulation, innovation and international collaboration, while reinforcing public confidence in the safety, quality and effectiveness of vaccines," she stated. The project aims to reinforce Nigeria’s regulatory capacity and generate evidence for deploying rapid screening technologies across the vaccine supply chain.

Building on the success of the Vaccine Identity Evaluation (VIE) Consortium established during the COVID-19 pandemic, this new phase will refine existing technologies and test them under real-world distribution conditions in Nigeria. NAFDAC will play a crucial role in implementing surveillance activities, providing scientific data for regulatory decisions, and strengthening the nation's immunization program. The initiative arrives at a critical juncture, addressing rising global concerns over the integrity of vaccine supply chains.

“

This initiative aligns with NAFDAC’s commitment to protecting public health through science-driven regulation, innovation and international collaboration, while reinforcing public confidence in the safety, quality and effectiveness of vaccines.