The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Monday says some people had turned the vaccine into rackets to fleece unsuspected Nigerians.

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, raised the alarm over reported racketeering of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines in some of the designated vaccination centres across the country.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Abdullaziz Mashi Abdullahi, the minister warned Nigerians to desist from the vaccine racketeering.

“We have received reports of racketeering in some of the designated vaccination centres. This is not necessary. Vaccination has been scheduled in phases such that frontline health workers and those at higher risk of the infection are vaccinated first after registration at the portal. Everyone will be vaccinated free and everyone will eventually be vaccinated. There is no need to pay to be vaccinated,” he said.

The minister said Nigeria has not recorded the reported unusual side effects of the vaccine, stressing that NAFDAC is monitoring the process as part of a global tracking of adverse effects of the vaccine.

“Anyone who has received the vaccine and is experiencing any adverse reaction should please report to NAFDAC using the Med Safety App on your phone or report at the centre where you received the vaccination,” he said.