The Catholic Doctors Association have called on Kenyans to reconsider the COVID-19 vaccine, suspecting ‘sinister motives’ behind the speedy roll out. – By Gerald Gekara.
Through a statement signed by its chairman, Dr. Stephen Karanja, the doctors say health experts are withholding damning information concerning the virus.
“We appreciate the fact that COVID 19 has presented unprecedented new challenges in the management of health nationally/globally with tremendous negative impact on the economy and the livelihood of our people. It’s also becoming clear that there are partisan interests that seen bent on keeping some important truths from coming to the fore at the expense of human life.” the statement read.
The doctors said the introduction of a vaccine during an outbreak was contrary to health norms, saying the vaccine has not been given enough time to ascertain its safety.
“Vaccines have never been used in the control of outbreaks. Because vaccines take long to develop from production to efficacy and safety testing, most outbreaks like the Spanish flu, MERS, SARS died out naturally in a few years, without treatment and before any vaccine could be produced for widespread use.”
Dr. Karanja urged the government to reconsider already existing forms of treatment and strict adherance to health protocols, as the surest way to beat the virus.
The statements comes amid rising concern on the efficiency of the Astra Zeneca vaccines that have been banned temporarily. Global health practitioners have called for more scrutiny.
This is not the first time Catholic doctors have rejected a vaccine. They were also opposed to a government campaign to vaccinate young girls against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in 2019.
