The Ministry of Health has dismissed conspiracy theories about coronavirus vaccines and advised the public to take the World Health Organization-backed COVAX vaccine. 

The ministry advice comes a day after receiving more than 37,000 COVAX syringes, as well as 20,000 doses of the Chinese Shinopharm vaccine from Senegal.

The vaccine doses will be used to inoculate the priority group that includes health workers, the elderly and people with underlying health problems. 

Buba Darboe, program manager at the Ministry of Health, said: “the COVAX vaccine has been approved by health experts, World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health and the vaccine is safe to be vaccinated by anyone in the country.

“The Ministry of Health will first give the vaccine to the frontline health worker as they are the most vulnerable when it come to the virus,” he said.

He added: The Ministry is expecting to have another dozen which will be vaccinated among the elderly and  diabetic patients.”

Mr Darboe advised the public to desist from spreading false information about coronavirus vaccines, adding “If anyone needs any information they should come to the Ministry or call us before disseminating wrong information’s that will put doubts in the minds of the people.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba