Tanzania's dilemma: It's not so easy to go from Vaccine Denier to Vaccine EmbracerZoomen this image toggle caption Ericky Boniphace/AFP via Getty Images Ericky Boniphace/AFP via Getty ImagesSamia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania's president is due to receive her COVID-19 vaccination on Wednesday. This will mark the official launch the country's vaccination program.This is a stark contrast with the COVID position earlier in the year. With her deputy health minister, Dorothy Gwajima, Dr. Dorothy Gwajima appeared before the cameras on February 2. To assure the public of the effectiveness of natural remedies, they all consumed concoctions made with ginger, garlic, and lemons.Gwajima stated that the government does not intend to receive COVID-19 vaccinations from other countries.It was President John Magufuli who believed that vaccines weren't necessary."You must stand firm. Vaccinations can be dangerous. Vaccinations are dangerous.Along with Burundi and Eritrea, Tanzania was among the four African countries not interested in immunizing their citizens.This anti-vaccine stand was in stark contrast to Tanzania's past record regarding vaccines. In 2014, Tanzania was among the top ten African countries for high vaccination rates with 99% coverage.This vaccine turnaround was difficult to understand. This explanation was provided by The Lancet, a medical journal.It is not clear why Tanzania refused to accept COVID-19 vaccinations. The government's decision to refuse COVID-19 vaccines was made because Tanzania had declared Tanzania free of them, Zitto Kabwe, the party leader for the Alliance for Change and Transparency (third largest party in Tanzania and main opposition party in Zanzibar), said that he believed it was forced to do so. Kabwe says, "I feel very sorry for my countrymen and women." The government has abandoned its duty to protect lives and must be held accountable. The government's approach is beyond my comprehension. It's mumbling and dangerous to me."Six months later, the president is still alive. Although heart disease was the official cause of his death at age 61 on March 17, however, rumors circulated (and were disproved) that he had also contracted COVID-19.Zoomen this image toggle caption Ericky Boniphace/AFP via Getty Images Ericky Boniphace/AFP via Getty ImagesThe anti-vaccine stance has been reversed by the new leadership.On June 12, Tanzania requested vaccine distribution to low-resource countries through the global COVAX program.On July 21, Kassim Majaliwa, the Prime Minister of East Africa, announced that the nation had begun receiving vaccines. The U.S. government donated the first shipment of 1,000,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines. He stated that people should be prepared for vaccination in a government statement.According to a Ministry of Health statement, July 22, the country's goal is to immunize 60% of its 58 million population. Prioritizing health workers is what was stated in the statement. It is unclear why this percentage was chosen or when the goal will be achieved.Skepticism vs. sciencePublic health officials are concerned that the misinformation and months of denial will lead to a lack of enthusiasm by many Tanzanians for their jab."Things have changed so quickly. "I know many people who are still trying reconcile themselves with the government's new COVID strategy," said Herrieth Makwetta. She is a health reporter for Mwananchi, a Swahili daily newspaper based in Dar es Salaam.Makwetta says that once it was taboo to use the COVID-19 acronym anywhere on the internet. He is referring to July 2020's online regulations, which prohibit the sharing of outbreak information without approval from the government and allow for disinformation to spread."I have met many people who believed COVID-19 did not exist and that it was propaganda from Western countries. It was difficult to prove them wrong in public. It's difficult to prove that it exists in the country when authorities claim it doesn’t. "Dr. Deus Kitapondya is an emergency medicine specialist based out of Dar es Salaam."The truth is that vaccines are still deeply divided, even among pro-government scientists," says a medical doctor who works at a Dar es Salaam hospital. People were for a long time taught that vaccines weren't safe," says a Dar es Salaam-based medical doctor.For fear of government reprisals, he requested anonymity to avoid being identified. This could have the potential to cost him his job. Despite this change in government policy, COVID-19 discussion online remains strictly forbidden.The medic says, "As doctors we didn't have access to the platform and freedom to publicly fact-check the government's statements to the public."He says that misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines is common and unfortunately came from official sources.Shindo Kilawa is a general doctor at Muhimbili National Hospital and says that the government has a difficult task ahead of it when it comes to promoting vaccines.Psychologically, to break free from the past, I believe there is a need for massive awareness campaigns, with a focus on the general public. Kilawa says that if we don't do this, we might end up with many unutilized vaccine stocks."Reuters via YouTubeThe former president's positionJohn Magufuli was a chemist with a Ph.D. He ruled Tanzania for five year. He stated that he believed that COVID-19 vaccines were motivated by "ulterior motives". He also questioned their safety, despite the fact that he was vaccinated and supported the development of COVID vaccines.Tanzania is currently trying to reset the public messaging regarding the science of COVID-19.The government created a COVID-19 task force to respond to the pandemic when the country had its first case, on March 25, 2020. This group enforced physical distancing as well as other preventive measures. Schools and stadiums were shut down.Three months later, President Magufuli ordered three days of national prayers and encouraged Tanzanians, who were suffering from COVID-19 symptoms, to use steam inhalation and herbal remedies to combat the problem.He declared the country "coronavirus-free" the same day, declaring that God had eradicated the virus.All COVID-19 responses programs, including those of the government task force were halted immediately after the declaration by the president.The country had already recorded 509 deaths and 21 cases. No further data about COVID-19 were released between that time and Magufuli's death on March 17, 2017.Magufuli started to change his views about the pandemic in his final days of life.During a Dar es Salaam church service on February 21, he stated that "the virus exists, and we must take every precaution,"At the time, there were rumors (and they were disproved by government) that COVID-19 had caused many government officials to become ill.Magufuli remained in hiding for several weeks following the church service. On March 17, Magufuli's death was announced.This image toggle caption AFP via Getty ImagesAn apparently new approachCOVID has a completely new attitude.Samia Suluhu Hassan, an economist from Manchester University, was elected president. Her recommendations led to the government requesting vaccine doses from COVAX.The recommendations of the committee are being implemented by Dr. Gwajima (Health Minister), who was an outspoken supporter Magufuli’s policies. She used to not wear a mask when she was public, but she now does. She is also asking for the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccinations.Her sudden changes have sparked backlash from social media.She stated that her position on COVID-19 had not changed during a live broadcast to Wasafi's local TV channel on July 13. While she acknowledged that herbal remedies are still a popular choice, she stressed that she must follow current scientific recommendations.NPR reached out to Gwajima for clarifications on her COVID-19 approach, and her decision to not wear a mask during a public health crisis under the previous administration. She did not return phone calls or text messages.Aikande Kuwayu, an honorary research fellow at the University of Wisconsin Madison who specializes in political governance and is based in Tanzania, said that the authority of the minister or her deputies in recommending vaccination does not guarantee a change in national attitudes.Kwayu says that their statements and actions during the previous administration were influential in a lot conspiracies, lies, and denials about the pandemic.Meanwhile, President Hassan has warned that COVID-19-related deaths have been increasing since June. "We are now in the third phase" of the pandemic. She said that we should take all precautions during a meeting with media editors at Dar es Salaam's statehouse, the commercial capital.The first COVID-19 data published by Tanzania in more than a year was June 28. President Masai reported 100 cases with 70 patients receiving oxygen therapy. There were no deaths. These numbers were not available in a timeframe. The minister of health released various case numbers since then, totalling 858 cases and 29 death as of July 22. The data is not regularly updated.Click to enlarge the image.Progress... or not?There are signs that things are changing in the rest of the nation. Hamisi Kigwangala is a doctor and member of parliament from Nzega in central Tanzania. He publicly opposed COVID-19 vaccinations on February 6.On July 24, he did a 180° turn and called on all Tanzanians for vaccination. He was captured at a private vaccination centre taking a shot with the Russian-made Sputnik Light.He said that the vaccine was the only way to be safe for now.He started a social media campaign to educate Tanzanians about COVID-19 vaccinations.Egidius kamanyi, a lecturer at University of Dar es Salaam's Department of Sociology and Anthropology, said that deep-rooted skepticism still exists.Kamanyi says that "for a long period, many people in urban and rural areas have not been part a health system which encourages a biological approach for the treatment of diseases.""A large portion of this society believes in traditional medicine as a way to treat their ailments. He says it's not surprising that people might not be interested in vaccines.Patty Magubira is a northeastern Tanzanian resident who says he's still not sure if he should be vaccinated."Of course, president Magufuli was trustworthy. He asked the same questions as me about vaccines. Magubira says that he was a patriotic president.He states, "I will only accept vaccinations if they are compulsory. Otherwise, I won't be able to take the vaccines."The politicization continues with vaccines. Josephat Gwajima is a member of Parliament who has repeatedly warned his followers to not take the jabs.Magufuli fanatic, he launched an anti-vaccine campaign in July 25.His social media post reads: "Being vaccinated can be voluntary. Use that opportunity to decline vaccines."This campaign has not been commented upon by the government. The big question now is: When will the inoculation begin for the general public?Syriacus Buguzi, a Tanzanian scientist journalist, is also a doctor. Find him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/buguzi
