GOVT TO BLAME FOR VACCINE SCEPTICISM

Sir,

Flip-flopping, poor communication and constant mixed messaging by government are to blame for the aversion of some healthcare workers and members of the public, to the AstraZeneca vaccine. When the South African Government suspended use of this vaccine, after a study conducted in that country suggested that it offered minimal protection against mild to moderate illness caused by the 501Y.V2 variant of the virus, which had become the dominant strain of the virus in that country, the Government of Eswatini followed suit shortly thereafter.

Announced

Health Minister Lizzie Nkosi, citing the kingdom’s proximity to South Africa and suggesting that this variant was likely already within our borders, announced that the country would no longer be using the vaccine. Fast forward one month, lo and behold, in a stunning about face, the minister whipped out the cameras as she got the jab she previously announced would not be used.

Confusion

At the time of announcing the suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine, was government sure that the 501Y.V2 variant was indeed prevalent in the country? If so, why is it now encouraging the uptake of an evidently ineffective vaccine? If not, why did government make it seem so, as this is now causing confusion. Had government, through testing of samples, determined if there were other variants of the virus now circulating within the country, particularly the South African variant, it would have been able to determine whether or not to suspend the AstraZeneca vaccine, basing its decision on empirical evidence.

Chose

Instead, like Mr Bean, it chose to take a peek at the neighbour’s script and that has come back to bite it.  Now it has to deal with a sceptical public and worse still, sceptical healthcare workers whom, if not inoculated in time, will not be ready to give critical care to the public when the third wave of infections comes knocking. This government should learn to make its own decisions, justify the basis on which they make them and communicate them effectively to stakeholders and the wider public.

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