UN, UNICEF Defend The Tetanus Vaccine Campaign

The two UN agencies termed the claims by Catholic Church as “misinformation” and lacking evidence.

The health agencies added that they would back joint tests on the vaccine to ascertain its safety and allay fears.

They agencies further lamented that the claims pose a risk to national immunisation programmes for children and women.

The UN agencies have also acknowledged that a doctor representing the church conducted independent tests on the tetanus vaccine to test for HCG levels and said that the results should be treated as invalid and detection levels of HCG were below acceptable limits.

However, Kenya Catholic Doctors Association member Wahome Ngare has questioned the use of HCG in the manufacture of tetanus vaccines. 

This international response comes shortly after the Catholic Church demanded that the ongoing countrywide Tetanus Vaccine Campaign be shelved until concerns it has raised over its safety and objectives are addressed.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Church hospitals in the country have stopped the administration of the tetanus vaccine.

Some of health facilities under the patronage of the Catholic Church vowed not to administer the tetanus vaccination adding that the vaccine has to be thoroughly scrutinised.

Speaking in St Marys Hospital Mumias , Father Protus Hamisi reiterated an earlier position of the church saying that the vaccine has to be verified before the church gives a go ahead.

The church claims that the vaccine is a disguised birth control strategy that targets sexually active women.

By Rehema Juma