The country administers doses of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine and those of the Astra Zeneca vaccine, given as part of the Covax mechanism. Several European countries have suspended the use of this vaccine as a precautionary measure. But for the Senegalese health authorities, at this stage there is no need to worry.
To date, no “major problem” has been observed in people vaccinated with Astra Zeneca doses, state health authorities.
“We are continuing our vaccination with Astra Zeneca. At the moment, we have no factual argument for suspending the Astra Zeneca vaccine in Senegal, ”said Dr. El Hadj Mamadou Ndiaye, director of prevention and spokesman for the Ministry of Health. “I think we should once again privilege health beyond the political. If there is any doubt, there are doubts about a number of vaccines, the investigations will be around this batch and it is this batch that is suspended in the meantime and not suspend the whole vaccination because people doubt it. And there is the responsibility of those who quit. We can also question a vaccine, stick to another vaccine, and these vaccines can experience an incident on a given batch. We will suspend again until the whole world suspends vaccination against Covid-19, which has not finished causing harm, as we are talking about a third wave in some countries. “
“No panic”, therefore, says the director of prevention. For him, the precautionary principle should not call into question an entire strategy.
In Senegal, 324,000 doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine (produced in India) have already been delivered by the beginning of the month. One million additional doses are expected in May.
Since the start of the vaccination campaign three weeks ago, more than 139,000 people have already been vaccinated, according to the Ministry of Health.
► Also read:Covid-19: WHO reassures AstraZeneca vaccine
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