After months of anticipation and surging cases of covid-19, Ethiopia received its first batch of Covid-19 vaccination vaccines. Sources reveal that the shipment arrived on 7th March following an initial COVAX agreement to roll out the supply. The Serum Institute of India manufactured the vaccines, which are known as AstraZeneca.
While addressing the media, Lia Tadesse, Ethiopia’s health minister, stated that hope became a reality in the state after a long wait of uncertainties. Ethiopia received about 2.2 million AstraZeneca vaccines, quite a generous amount for a start. Tadesse believes that the ongoing global vaccination campaign against covid is the most significant partnership ever seen, and together people are going to curb the pandemic.
The Vaccination
On Saturday 13th March, Ethiopia began administering coronavirus vaccines in its capital city, Addis Ababa. The vaccination campaign was attended by the country’s World Health Organization Representative, Mr. Hama Sambo. During the launch, Mr. Hama urged the community and its leaders to build trust and demand for the vaccine. He condemned misconceptions and neanderthal thinkers, discouraging people from being vaccinated.
The state’s health workers will be the most prioritized during the inoculation campaigns, as they spent most of their time treating those who have contracted the virus.
The State of COVID-19 in Ethiopia
So far, Ethiopia has confirmed over 172500 cases of coronavirus and 2510 deaths. According to analysis, the numbers have been escalating since the emergence of the virus in the country. Deaths have also been recurrent; hence residents have been living in fear of contracting the virus.
Just like other states, Abiy’s government has reinforced measures to contain the virus. The state hopes that come to the end of 2021, it would have vaccinated 20% of its population. Other than the 2.2 million doses, Ethiopia expects 5.4 million doses which are part of the global deployment plan. The subsequent shipment is anticipated to arrive in the country around May.
Controversies on the Vaccines
Although many views covid vaccines as the only way to liberate the world from the virus, some people have criticized them. The ideology of misconceptions has corrupted such minds into believing that the doses are not safe, there is no proof of their effectiveness, etc.
Sami Berhan confidently told the media that he was not convinced about the vaccines. He stated that even if the AstraZeneca vaccine is offered to him free of charge, he will not take it. Sami believes that the virus is a sign of God’s wrath upon his people for the sins they have been committing. Instead of taking the vaccine, Sam says he prefers to pray.
It happens that Ethiopia is not the only state with controversies over the vaccine. Other African states like Kenya also began their vaccination campaigns. However, critics had something to say, some even seeking assurance from the clergy. There is also the belief that the vaccines may be a plot by the whites to experiment on the blacks. However, none of the controversies are true. Some laboratories have confirmed the possibilities of the effectiveness of the vaccines.
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