Several countries around the world they falsified official coronavirus statistics, shared artificially sunny perspectives on the pandemic, or suppressed reports that contradict the official narrative.
Zoom In: But no country has taken the coronavirus denial to the extent of Tanzania – which not only denies having a single case, but also rejects vaccines.
- Even North Korea, which has reported zero cases, should receive vaccines from the COVAX initiative. The same is true for Turkmenistan, which is officially free of COVID, but will soon launch its vaccination campaign with Sputnik V. from Russia
- President John Magufuli said that Tanzania does not need vaccines, and that they do not work anyway: “If the white man managed to make the vaccines, he should have already found a vaccine for AIDS, cancer and tuberculosis”.
- Instead, his government recommended herbal remedies, steam treatments and a ginger and onion smoothie to prevent infections.
Reality check: Magufuli’s COVID populism is dangerous for several reasons.
- Tanzanians are dying. In crowded hospitals, patients who take oxygen succumb to what will be officially registered as “acute pneumonia”, reports The Continent.
- The virus crosses borders. The government’s decision to refuse vaccines and make any testing and screening system virtually impossible can be dangerous for Tanzania’s neighbors and potentially for the world.
The other side: Doctors and journalists tried to spread the word about the risks, mainly anonymously, due to fear of retaliation, and the Catholic Church recently raised the alarm.