“Idiocy, “said a friend referring to the refusal to accept an anti-Covid jab. True, but sadly this is not only dangerous for the denier, but also for others with whom s/he happens to come into contact.
In Africa, an admirable woman has become a model for vaccination. On the 28th of July Tanzania‘s President, Samia Suluhu Hassan was vaccinated live on TV with Johnson & Johnson, the first to receive a jab of a large consignment from the USA under the global COVAX scheme. She assured the 60m population that the vaccine was perfectly safe. As a granny of several grandchildren, President and Commander in Chief she would never endanger herself!
With this, the President began a brave campaign, for her popular predecessor John Magafuli, who had died in March had denied the seriousness of Covid 19. He had refused the COVAX vaccine and suggested the illness should be “prayed away” and proposed the use of herbal medicine. He had been supported by his Health Minister, who is now completely in tune with his successor. Only shortly before the former President’s death had an expert committee begun to study the Covid vaccines.
Unfortunately, vaccine deniers exist in many countries, despite the third wave of the pandemic. In the USA the issue has become a political football so that vaccination is practically decided by one’s political persuasion. A situation that seems to deserve my friend’s description of idiocy!