Uncertainty continues to surround the tetanus vaccine despite being declared safe by the government, this is after preliminary results showed that 3 out of the 59 samples tested positive for beta HCG which is responsible to cause sterilization in women.
A committee of experts drawn from government and Catholic Church noted that while preliminary results indicated it was safe.
“The preliminary report could not ascertain the level of contamination. We are still waiting for a conclusive report from the local lab and results from the international lab,” said Stephen Karanja of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB)
Speaking to the Friday Bulletin Prof. Muhammad Karama a researcher at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) noted that there were still concerns about the vaccine despite samples from the preliminary results showing very low levels of the HCG hormone and assurance from the government.
“We need to meet again and further do complete analysis and unless we get the full report we cannot be hundred percent whether the vaccines are safe” said Prof. Karama.
Prof. Karama pointed out that more research and analysis needs to be carried out to dispel the fears stating that many people have turned away from the vaccination exercise due to the fears and controversy regarding the vaccine.
He said government needs to come out clearly on the vaccine to allay fears among Kenyans as vaccination is important for the wellbeing and people should not shun them especially in Muslim predominant areas such as the coast and north eastern where people are vulnerable to diseases.
Karama further revealed that the Muslim community was not against the entire vaccination but rather had concerns about the mass vaccination of school going girls adding that Kenyans should go for routine vaccination such as polio and those meant for infant and children to protect them against infections.
