BEVERLY HILLS, April 07, (THEWILL) – The World Health Organisation (WHO) has dismissed as “racist” a suggestion by some scientists that the coronavirus vaccine be tested in Africa.
Its Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, speaking at a press briefing on Monday said Africa is not a testing ground for any vaccine and described such suggestions as a hangover from the “colonial mentality.”
“On the vaccines issue, there was a comment from some couple of scientists who said the testing ground for the new vaccine should be Africa.
“To be honest, I was so appalled. When we need solidarity, these kinds of racist remarks will not help.
“Africa cannot and will not be a testing ground for any vaccine. We will follow all the rules to test any vaccine or therapeutics all over the world using exactly the same rule, whether it is in Europe, Africa or wherever, we will use the same protocol.”
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Ghebreyesus said in the video from the press briefing which was shared on his official Twitter handle.
Comments by two French doctors sparked a comeback after a Television debate in which they suggested trials of vaccine in Africa to see if a tuberculosis vaccine would prove effective against coronavirus.
Jean-Paul Mira, head of intensive care at Cochin hospital in Paris, then said: “If I can be provocative, shouldn’t we be doing this study in Africa, where there are no masks, no treatments, no resuscitation?”
Camille Locht then replied: “You are right. We are currently thinking similarly about a study in Africa regarding the BCG vaccine. There is a proposal that has gone out — or will. We will seriously consider it.”
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