Tag Archives: vaccines

Vaccines save lives

WHO Zimbabwe Representative Dr Desta Tiruneh

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA

Vaccines are one of the major medical advances that have been made, leading to the saving of many lives as they are safe to use, World Health Organisation (WHO) Zimbabwe Representative, Dr Desta Tiruneh has said.

Dr Tiruneh revealed this on Tuesday during a media science café organised by WHO and Health Communicators Forum.

According to WHO, vaccination is defined as “a simple, safe and effective way of protecting you against harmful diseases, before you come into contact with them. It uses your body’s natural defenses to build resistance to specific infections and makes your immune system stronger.”

Dr Tiruneh revealed this as Zimbabwe is preparing for another round of oral cholera vaccine soon.

“Zimbabwe is preparing for another round of oral cholera vaccination, for a small targeted area this time. The vaccine is going to be received soon, then we have to do the campaign.

“One of the issues that we noticed in the last campaign is that some people or some different groups of people for different reasons, either religion or other conspiracy theories, they don’t want to take vaccines.

“But if we talk about medical advances, vaccines are the best thing that ever happened in health sector because with the vaccines you can prevent lots of deaths,” said Dr Tiruneh.

He revealed that it was unfortunate that many children were dying of diseases which can be easily prevented by vaccination, hence there is need for more awareness such that people are fully aware of the life saving impact of vaccines.

“We can see for example I can tell you that small pox is gone and now we have polio almost at the point of eradication because vaccines change the world.

“We have many kids that are dying because of measles and measles you have vaccination, with two doses, you are done for life.

“You have yellow fever, I think with just one dose, you are done for life.

“So we have vaccines which can prevent lots of killer diseases, so this is something that we should appreciate.

“But I know with anti-vaxxers, they will create all sorts of stories, that if you take this, you will become sterile, but people will be infertile for other reasons but they associate it with that (vaccination) and then they say no, this is my lived experience, I was vaccinated now I cannot have a baby.

“But it has nothing to do with the vaccine. And there is no proof,” added Dr Tiruneh.

Similar sentiments were also echoed by Dr Lincoln Charimari, WHO Zimbabwe, Emergency Incident Manager, who spoke of the oral cholera saying it is safe as it can be used in all people who are aged one year and above.

“It can even be used in pregnant women, it can be used by even those who are HIV positive, it’s one of the safest vaccines around, so it is safe and you use it with other measures.

“And now that the cases have reduce to zero, it doesn’t mean it (cholera) has completely gone away, we have to continue to be vigilant and to continue to observe the necessary hygiene practices,” said Dr Charimari.

Anti-vaxxers are people who are opposed to vaccination and it has been revealed that several vaccination campaigns were hampered because of conspiracy theories around vaccination.

It said while anti-vaxxers refuse to vaccinate, they have also influenced other people not to vaccinate, giving all sort of theories.

 

Shortcomings in Pandemic Agreement need to be addressed

Dr Enerst Chikwati flanked by Dr Sandra Bote (left) and Clever Taderera

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Agreement lacks the capacity to protect people from poor countries, such that if another major health issue strikes, millions will die; AIDS Healthcare Foundation Zimbabwe, Country Program Manager, Dr Enerst Chikwati, has said.

Dr Chikwati reiterated that if the finalisation of the agreement-which is set for this May- goes without addressing the gaps, there will be catastrophe.

He said: “If this thing goes through, next pandemic we might all die.”

Dr Chikwati was speaking during a Pandemic Agreement Sensitization Meeting with journalists last Friday.

The Pandemic Agreement was created by WHO’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), to address gaps which were seen following the Covid-19 pandemic which is estimated to have killed almost 18 million people globally.

It is reported that the Covid-19 pandemic exposed major shortcomings in the global health security architecture, and to address those (shortcomings), INB came up with the Pandemic Agreement on April 16 this year.

While the some of the aims of the Pandemic Agreement include, “to protect all people, in all countries, no matter how rich or poor, from harm”, AHF which has 47 member states, noted there are some gaps which need to be addressed before the final agreement is launched this May.

“This is our position on why changes are needed before the document is finalized in May 2024.

“So our number one concern is about the agreement itself, as AHF we are worried by the WHO Pandemic Agreement which has now become weaker, Dr Bote (AHF Zimbabwe, National Medical Director) has said it’s now watered down and it lacks accountability.

“Second issue is of the current text, the latest version of the agreement is filled with empty promises and lacks the power needed to make sure everyone has access to health, health resources during pandemic, you have already heard about equity.

“By definition it means equal distribution of resources among the people in considering their needs. This is not what is happening and this is what happened during the Covid-19 pandemic in terms of access to vaccines. Most developing countries struggled to get vaccines, whilst developed countries hoarded vaccines more than they needed so we need to talk more of equity in the future pandemics.

“The third point is focused on pharmaceutical interest; developing countries are protecting drug companies; instead of making sure that everyone has got access to healthcare during pandemics, drug companies are putting profits over lives of people,” said Dr Chikwati.

He added that the Pandemic Agreement “lacks health product guarantees, like Dr Bote has already mentioned, WHO will only access only 20 percent of all the commodities, of all the resources, maybe drugs and vaccines. 20 percent is not enough definitely, it won’t be enough to cover the third world countries, or developing countries.

“The 80 percent will be at the mercy of these big pharmas, they have money and they want to make more money, so we really plead with WHO, INB board to reconsider this 20 percent.

“There is also need for accountability and enforcement, we need strong rules to make sure countries follow the agreement, we need commitments from Heads of State and also for the Heads of State to be involved in the signing of this agreement. That will ensure accountability, that will ensure in country has commitment for each country.

“Then the sixth one is call for independent oversight, there is no independent body from WHO, we urge WHO to consider appointing an independent body, independent from WHO, independent from donors of WHO, to head and oversee the Pandemic Agreement.

“We also urge WHO to reconsider the CSOs (Civil Society Organisations), to be more involved, their voices need to be heard, they need to hear them, their finalizing, but let them get input from the civic society. AHF is therefore mobilizing support across the board to roll-out action to pressure Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to revisit the agreement and address critical gaps that I have highlighted.”

Similar sentiments on the Pandemic Agreement were also echoed by Dr Sandra Bote, who said “this latest iteration of the text, which has been significantly watered down through the negotiation process, is filled with platitudes, anemic in obligations, and devoid of any accountability.”

She added, “the word equity appears nine times in the October negotiating text, including as a guiding principle of the whole treaty. But in reality, Article 12 stipulates that WHO would have access to only 20 percent of “pandemic-related products for distribution based on public health risks and needs”.

”The other 80 percent— whether vaccines, treatments, or diagnostics—would be prey to the international scramble seen in COVID-19 that saw vital health technologies sold to the highest bidder.

”Most of the world’s population live in countries that might not be able to afford these products, but 20 percent seems to be all that high-income countries were willing to agree to.

”It appears like the developed nations have vehemently defended the private interest of pharmaceutical companies over the collective common interest of achieving global health security in a sustainable and equitable manner.”

AHF was established in 1987 with the main purpose of providing quality and affordable health services to people living with HIV and the organisation is currently in 47 countries.