DPP gives opposition to Covid vaccines indemnity agreement between Malawi govt and manufacturer
The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has said it will be forced to go to court to seek protection of the lives and health Malawi citizens over Covid-19 vaccine, saying it is “horrified” to learn that government has decided to enter an indemnity agreement with manufacturers against liability over any harm emanating the vaccines.
A statement issued by DPP spokesperson Brown Mpinganjira on Friday comes amidst some circuclation myths about the vaccine on social media and on WhatsApp religiously targeted claiming claim the vaccines contain animal produce – eating pork goes against the religious beliefs of Muslims
The DPP says it has not been provided with the exact and full terms of the indemnity and has demanded that the document of indemnity must be made public for all Malawians to appreciate its purpose and import.
“As everyone is now aware, the Covid-19 vaccine is shrouded in controversy. Its safety, especially to Africans, is suspect. This is perhaps why the manufacturers of the vaccine are demanding from obsequious governments such as the Malawi Government, assurances that they will not be liable if harm is caused to Malawians.
“A Government that is accountable to its citizens cannot forego the rights of its citizens without fully informing its citizens of the implications of the indemnity, and without seeking informed acceptance by the citizens,” reads part of the statement.
The DPP has admitted that vaccines have proven to be an efficient way of addressing diseases but the party has also claimed that some vaccines have caused irreparable harm to humans.
According to the DPP, Malawi must be guided by scientific evidence of the vaccines’ safety. The party has argued that if the first step the manufacturers are demanding is an indemnity, then Malawi must question their confidence in their vaccine.
“We therefore demand that the Government must come clean on this matter. What do our scientists know about the vaccine? What assurances have we received that the vaccine is safe? What is the indemnity protecting the manufacturers from?” reads the statement in part.
The DPP has since demanded the Government to provide a satisfactory explanation to Malawians within the next 7 days failing which the opposition party will seek the intervention of the courts to “protect the lives and health of citizens.”
Malawi is yet to get the vaccine but this week lessons were disrupted in some schools due to fake news that health workers were going to administer Coronavirus vaccine to learners.
Uchitsilu! DPP needs to show if any or all of the vaccines currently being administered in the country don’t have the same liability protection. I bet you BJ can’t produce that document! The government should just release all the liability agreements for all medication! You are all busy selling Viagra, Xanax, and other dangerous drugs over the counter when the manufacturer and the countries of origin don’t even touch those meds unless you have a prescription, yet you are the ones to speak on dangers of a vaccine to a global pandemic. Which model is DPP following anyway? US EU… Read more »
Zooona boma lisangowatengera anthu m’ botolo. Ngati kuli ma Scientist/ biomedical/ vaccinologist anyenera kuti awaunikenso makhwalawo pawokha. Akuyenera kuwauza anthu ma side effects vaccine yo. Pakuti ngakhale panadol ili ndi side effects. Asanapereke kwa anthu osangodalira kuti ku Poti ku UK/ USA akulandira nafe basi osafufuza bwino bwino. Koma funso ndilokuti aliko akatakawala amenewa ku Malawiko? Kapena zoyeserazo alinazo. Tidziwa bwanji kuti tikulandiladi vaccine imene akulandira ku Uk?
Our universities never produce epidemiologists or whatever you are asking for. They only give us mabwana.
Seeking Court’s intervention alone is not enough but calling for demonstration. This is a national issue it’s dpp issue alone. Everyone is affected regardless of the party, region or religion someone belongs to.
Keep it up intelligent and educated people of the mighty DPP. Protect Malawi from these clueless guys.
We have the worst amateurish government ever, making blunder after blunder.
In the whole article you don’t mention the brand name or manufacturer of the vaccine the govt is procuring, if you provide that information people can research online and check reviews on their own without waiting for government spokesperson or opposition spokesperson to speculate things.
Very sad all the people seems to believe the social media fauce news if the white people wanted to killed the black people they could done long time because the country like Malawi they dontanufacture anything they procure even asimple asprin but u still accepting to take flu vaccine polio vaccine and other medicine even some food coming from Europe and America just wait if the government will manage to buy or not covid is here to stay
This dull government should just release the agreement. Akuopa chani?
Giving indemnity to drug manufacturers
Is not only naive but stupidity at best. You will be giving the drug providers licence to kill your own citizens as they will be used as Guinea pigs. Are you damn?
Malawi has simply to wait if this is the case. Companies world over are asking for this indemnity because the vaccines have been approved as an emergency remedy. There are still other things not known about the crisis and about the vaccine. All who want to try them can go ahead at their own risk because research is ongoing. If not, just wait; be ready for anything paja wamantha anafera kuuna. This vaccine has met political fronts world over. Or the government could take a census of those wishing to have it anyway and order for only those people. That… Read more »