Tanzanian President, John Magufuli has warned Tanzanians against rushing into accepting vaccines from foreign companies and countries, claiming that little has been done to help cure other diseases like tuberculosis, HIV-Aids, malaria among other infections that existed before the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.
Magufuli who claimed that vaccinations against COVID-19 are dangerous and harmful to the body urged Tanzanians to protect themselves from the deadly diseases by using domestic measures including steam inhalation.
According to the Tanzanian president: “You should stand firm. Vaccinations are dangerous. If the white man was able to come up with vaccinations, he should have found a vaccination for Aids by now; he would have found a vaccination of tuberculosis by now; he would have found a vaccination for malaria by now; he would have found a vaccination for cancer by now”.
“The Health ministry must know that not every vaccination is meaningful to our nation. Tanzanians must be mindful so that we are not used for trials of some doubtful vaccinations which can have serious repercussions on our health,” he added.
While calling on Tanzanians to remain steadfast in prayers and supplications unto God, Mugufili noted that “We have lived for over one year without the virus because our God is able and Satan will always fail”
President Magufili unlike many other world leaders has resisted imposing strict lockdowns to contain the virus and his government has faced criticism over its secrecy regarding the outbreak in the East African nation, which has not published official COVID-19 statistics for more than six months.
The president offered no evidence to support his doubts about the safety of vaccinations, which are being administered across more than 50 countries, according to Our World in Data, after securing regulatory approval.
Tanzania is among the first countries in Africa to order for the touted Madagascar Covid herb in the fights against the virus.
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina is the promoter-in-chief of the substance, marketed as Covid-Organics and sold in the form of herbal infusion.
Artemisia annua has a long history in its native China, where scientists discovered an active ingredient that made the plant a front-line weapon in the fight against malaria.
The substance has proven effectiveness against malaria, but no clinical trials have tested it against COVID-19, either as a cure or as a preventative.
Countries like the United State have warned their citizens from traveling to Tanzania to avoid risks of contracting the virus.
In its update, the U.S. cautioned its citizen against traveling to East Africa, assigning Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi Level 4 alert.
