The Minister of Health Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh on Tuesday told reporters that Gambia will not ban using AstraZeneca vaccine.

The vaccine is currently suspended in most European countries due to the fear of its aftermath. A considerable number of people have reportedly died after using the vaccine. However, the officials are yet  to determine if indeed the Astrazeneca Vaccine is the cause of their death.

“We do hear that some countries have taken precautionary measures to suspend AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine. Still as a country, we are going by international standards and guidelines as advised by the WHO and their expert committees and typically the WHO is the custodian of those guidelines. The information we are getting is that the WHO is not recommending its ban or withdrawal,” the minister said.

Dr. Samateh added that, “The analysis has confirmed that there are more benefits in the vaccine than risks. My ministry received medical supplies for COVID-19 responses worth over USD154, 858, 41 donated by the WHO.”

WHO representative Dr Desta A Tiruneh, urged everyone to take the Covid-19 vaccine, as a protective measure to fight against this virulent virus.

 

By: Fatima Sonko