Tanzanian Health Minister Dorothy Gwajima has confirmed that the government has no plans to rollout COVID-19 vaccines, reported Africa News.
“For now the government has no plans to receive the Covid vaccine being distributed in other countries,” Gwajima told a press conference in the capital, Dodoma, on Monday.
The Tanzanian health minister insisted that the country is completely safe. During a presentation, she encouraged the public to improve hygiene practices including the use of sanitizers but also steam inhalation.
The minister urged Tanzanians to take precautions and to use traditional medicine as a way of dealing with coronavirus, although their efficacy to combat the virus has not been scientifically confirmed.
The statement comes just days after President John Magufuli expressed doubt over the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines without offering evidence. He warned his health ministry against rushing to adopt the vaccines.
President Magufuli asked the Tanzanian people to continue to put their trust in God who has eliminated the virus from the country.
Notably, the current state of the coronavirus in Tanzania remains unknown as the president has declared the country to be COVID-free. The health authorities have also stopped keeping a track of coronavirus infections or deaths in the country. It last did so in May, when about 500 cases and 20 deaths were recorded.
But authorities in Tanzania, from the Catholic church to government institutions, are telling the public and employees that COVID-19 exists in the country and precautions must be taken.
In its latest travel warning on Tanzania, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the country’s level of COVID-19 is “very high.” While it gave no details, the body urged against all travel to the East African nation.
Last week, the World Health Organization’s regional director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, also urged Tanzania to share its data on infections. She urged the people to ramp up public health measures.
