Comments on COVID-19 Vaccine Taken Out of Context, Says Kenya’s Health Minister

Kenya’s Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe has said his comments on doubts about a COVID-19 vaccine were taken out of context.

A video of the minister questioning how the vaccine developers were able to tell if someone was to catch coronavirus was shared online, sparking criticism.

While appearing on Wednesday before a parliamentary committee the minister had said: “I really, personally to tell you the truth, I have got my many doubts about it because we are talking about a [vaccine] that stops people from getting the virus,” he said.

“How do you know I was going to get the virus in the first place?”

His comments attracted criticism from many Kenyans online.

Mr. Kagwe has now said his comments were an expression of doubt on the vaccine’s efficacy.

“This clip has been taken out of context as it was specifically directed at reports of Pfizer developing a vaccine that is reported to be 95% effective; this response is driven by the reaction of top medics and if well guided, perhaps we all should share in it,” the minister said in a statement.

He said the government would not commit funds to a vaccine whose efficacy was in doubt and would instead “wait for globally and scientifically acceptable vaccines.”

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