Gulf Today Report 

Tanzania has no plans to accept COVID-19 vaccines, said its health ministry few days after the country’s president said he had doubts about the vaccine.

According to Dorothy Gwajima, health minister, any vaccine coming into the country must receive ministry approval. It is not clear when any vaccines might arrive, though Tanzania is eligible for the COVAX global effort aimed at delivering doses to low- and middle-income countries.

During a press conference, which the minister and others didn’t wear face masks, she insisted that the country is safe.  

John Magufuli, Tanzanian president. AFP

The health minister encouraged the public to improve hygiene practices including the use of sanitisers but also steam inhalation - which has been dismissed by health experts elsewhere as a way to kill the coronavirus. 

Chief government chemist Fidelice Mafumiko also suggested the use of herbal medicine to cure COVID-19, without offering evidence.

The Tanzanian government has not updated its coronavirus infections data since April.

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President John Magufuli said God has eliminated COVID-19 in Tanzania, adding that vaccines for it are “inappropriate.”

But authorities in Tanzania, from the Catholic church to government institutions, are pushing back and telling the public and employees that COVID-19 exists in the country and precautions must be taken.