Kiir and Machar received their first dose of the risky AstraZeneca Vaccine

“H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit has this morning 13th April 2021, received his first dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as protection against the COVID-19 virus.” The office of president Salva Kiir announced.

“H.E. president Salva Kiir Mayardit was vaccinated at his official residence in the presence of the Vice President holding Services Delivery Cluster H.E. Hussein Abdelbaggi, Presidential Advisor on National Security Affairs Hon. Tut Gatluak Manime, number of national Ministers and senior officials in the Office of the President.” The statement continued.

According to Machar’s office, the First Vice President took his does together with many senior officials especially from the SPLM/A-IO party.

“The First Vice President of the Republic, H. E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny, was vaccinated today, Wednesday, 7 April, 2021, in his office with the AstraZeneca jab vaccine against Covid-19 disease.” Said the office of the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar.

“He is the first senior official of the government of South Sudan from the Presidency to receive his jab, together with the Minister of Electricity and Dams, Hon. Peter Marcello, as well as a number of senior staff in the office of the First Vice President.” Machar’s press team continued.

Addressing the media shortly after the vaccination, the Minister of Presidential Affairs Hon. Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin said, Covid-19 is dangerous and applauded H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit for joining to lead the campaign for the ongoing nationwide vaccination exercise in the fight against coronavirus.

Although he did not discuss the side-effects and what the public should, Dr. Marial Bejamin briefly mentioned that AstraZeneca vaccine is not all safe but people who receive it are less likely to get the virus compared to those who are not vaccinated.

According to studies by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the new AstraZeneca vaccine  has possibility of causing rare cases of blood clots and low level of blood platelets in some people.

The EMA reminds the healthcare professionals and people receiving the vaccine to be aware of these side-effects that may occur within two weeks and cause death.

“EMA is reminding healthcare professionals and people receiving the vaccine to remain aware of the possibility of very rare cases of blood clots combined with low levels of blood platelets occurring within 2 weeks of vaccination.” Read part of EMA statement that was released on Wednesday last week.

“So far, most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within 2 weeks of vaccination. Based on the currently available evidence, specific risk factors have not been confirmed.” The report continued.

The EMA encourages people who have received the vaccine to seek medical assistance immediately if they develop symptoms of this combination of blood clots and low blood platelets

According to Professor Paul Kelly, the Australian public health physician, epidemiologist and public servant who is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Australia, Australia is encouraging their citizens to take Pfizer vaccine instead of AstraZeneca vaccine that is now associated with high risk of blood clots and other side effects.

“The ATAGI recommendations are the following: At the current time, the use of the Pfizer vaccine is preferred over the AstraZeneca vaccine in adults aged less than 50 years who have not already received a first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine,” Kelly said.

“This is based both on the increased risk of complications from COVID-19 with increasing age, and thus increased benefit of the vaccination, and the potentially lower, but not zero risk, of this rare event with increasing age.” He continued.

Information for the general public.

People, who are receiving COVID-19 Vaccine, are encouraged to monitor the following symptoms and report to nearby hospital immediately if they develop the following symptoms:

• “You must seek urgent medical attention immediately if you have any of the following symptoms in the weeks after your injection:”
  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain
  • leg swelling
  • persistent abdominal (belly) pain
  • neurological symptoms, such as severe and persistent headaches or blurred vision
  • tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection.
• Speak to your healthcare professional or contact your relevant national health authorities if you have any questions about the roll out of the vaccine in your country.