Doctors have urged religious leaders to stop making bold comments and declarations against the COVID-19 vaccine and leave the experts to explain issues concerning the science concerning the vaccine to experts, for now, The Herald reports.
This comes after reports claimed that religious leaders have stocked up anointing oil ready to be sold to church members once churches reopen after the government relaxed lockdown restrictions.
It has also been catapulted by some declarations made by some religious leaders including UFIC leader Emmanuel Makandiwa who has repeatedly discouraged the COVID-19 vaccine and generally said so many things about the pandemic including that people will be implanted with microchips to monitor them.
Mpilo Hospital acting CEO Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said:
We need to disseminate a lot of information because there has been a lot of misinformation around Covid-19 and the vaccines. We need to stop this misinformation from religious leaders, some of whom are very popular because their assertions are not only unscientific but also very dangerous, viral infections cannot be cured by anointing oil.
While Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights, Dr Norman Matara said:
Initially as doctors we were sceptical but after we read medical journals we realised that the vaccine was effective and right now most doctors have been vaccinated basing on scientific research.
We also believe that our Government should stop people who have no medical understanding and who are not scientists from misleading the population.
Right now there is a lot of misconception around the vaccination because of some religious leaders like Makandiwa who have been discouraging people from taking the vaccines.
So far Zimbabwe has vaccinated 35 000, frontline workers.
More: The Herald