The International Foundation Against Infectious Diseases in Nigeria (IFAIN) has initiated a five-year background investigation into the adverse effects of vaccines in the country.

The foundation, a non-governmental organisation working with the Global Vaccine Data Network, has selected four hospitals in Nigeria where the study will be conducted under its project titled “Background Rate of Adverse Events for Vaccine Evaluation in Africa (BRAVE).”
The country director for research at AFAIN, Bernard Ebruke, said the foundation is coordinating the implementation of the BRAVE project in Nigeria.

He said, “The project aims to understand some conditions that may be associated with vaccines. We want to understand how are they in the population before the (Lassa fever) vaccine is introduced, such that when we continue to monitor, looking out for those vaccines, what they call surveillance, by the time the vaccine is introduced and we see there is a change in the population, we know that there is a change in the population.”

According to Bernard, to determine how common the conditions are, there must be an understanding of the baseline of what is happening in the population before the introduction of vaccines. “This helps us assess whether any changes observed afterwards can be attributed to the vaccine or not. That is the core objective of the project,” he said, adding that the project also aims to support health facilities and the broader health system in Nigeria by building capacity to capture data reliably.

In Nigeria, Federal Medical Centre, Owo (Ondo State), Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (Edo State), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (Edo State), and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, are participating in the study.

Also speaking, Chief Medical Director at ATBUTH, Professor Yusuf Jibrin Bara, remarked that for any vaccine project and trial, there are basic information, infrastructure, and capacity that must be available.
“We are fortunate to have an organisation that provides us with significant capacity building, including in human capital, infrastructure, laboratories, and community engagement. We have already accomplished this, and very soon, you will see us begin vaccine trials. The first one we are starting with is Lassa, and more are coming.

“We are really ready for trials, so to conduct a trial, having some background information is necessary because many new drugs and vaccines are emerging, and they may have adverse effects. Therefore, you need to know what exists before administering the vaccine or drugs.

“This particular project is very important to us because it will show anyone coming to partner with us on vaccine or drug trials that we already have information about the adverse effects of some basic drugs. This will help us determine whether any effects are caused by the vaccine or the patient, and the community is already aware of these reactions,” he said.