Covid-19: the government of Burundi changes its strategy with regard to vaccination
Audio 00:53
Covid-19 pandemic in Burundi: collective handwashing scene, March 2020 (illustration).
AFP - ONESPHORE NIBIGIRA
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
After Tanzania, just a few days ago, it is Burundi's turn to turn 180 ° compared to the vaccine against Covid-19.
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The Committee to combat the spread of Covid-19 announced yesterday, Wednesday evening, that it had accepted an offer from the World Bank to provide it with these vaccines, announced the Minister of Public Health and vice-chairman of this committee, Dr. Thadée Ndikumana, during a press briefing.
But Gitega has announced its refusal to sign any commitment to take charge of the possible side effects of these vaccines, as required by pharmaceutical companies.
“
The committee reviewed the correspondence and suggested that the Ministry of Health could make the device available to receive these vaccines,
” explains Dr. Thadée Ndikumana, joined by
Esdras Ndikumana
from the Africa service
.
As you know, there are Burundians or other expatriates who have already received the vaccine.
When the vaccines are here, Burundians who wish can contact the health authorities for the vaccine.
"
But the government maintains its refusal to commit to the possible side effects.
“
The government cannot be compromised by the effects of this vaccine,
” insists the minister.
“
But without the government's commitment, since the forms that were sent to us asked the government to undertake to be able to manage, also, reimburse the side effects linked to this vaccine… This was not accepted by the government.
"
In northeastern Burundi, two rather rural communes, Kiremba and Kirundo, have been facing a
sudden surge in Covid-19 cases
since last week
.
In one week, contaminations have multiplied by more than three, with nearly 600 cases detected.The minister was contacted by Esdras Ndikimana of the Africa service.
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Read also
: Tanzania will soon start its vaccination campaign against Covid-19, according to the authorities
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Burundi
Health and medicine
Coronavirus
Vaccines