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Haiti has reportedly rejected the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine that was to be provided to the country by the @WHO.
Wondering what to make of that? Here are some points to consider.
https://haitiantimes.com/2021/04/08/haiti-rejects-covid-19-vaccine-from-who/">https://haitiantimes.com/2021/04/0... #Haiti #COVID
Wondering what to make of that? Here are some points to consider.
https://haitiantimes.com/2021/04/08/haiti-rejects-covid-19-vaccine-from-who/">https://haitiantimes.com/2021/04/0... #Haiti #COVID
The report that Haiti is rejecting the AstraZeneca vaccine broke as various other media outlets were reporting that Haiti has yet to begin vaccinating its population. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/correction-virus-outbreak-haiti-story-76924284">https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wi...
As each of these stories note, Haiti has various concerns, logistical and otherwise, about the AZ vaccine. However, they all maintain that Haiti is still working to get the shots. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article250527454.html">https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nati...
The above piece, from @Jacquiecharles, specifically notes that Haiti has not rejected the vaccine:
"Haiti asked Gavi to consider changing the AstraZeneca vaccine [...] but never refused the inoculation, Adrien, of the health ministry, said."
"Haiti asked Gavi to consider changing the AstraZeneca vaccine [...] but never refused the inoculation, Adrien, of the health ministry, said."
Nonetheless, its worth looking at the original report that Haiti will not be accepting AstraZeneca vaccines. https://www.juno7.ht/le-gouvernement-haitien-rejette-le-vaccin-astrazeneca/">https://www.juno7.ht/le-gouver...
Regardless pf whether the reports are indeed accurate, the reasons offered highlight some important considerations.
First, because certain groups will inevitably seize on these reports to cast doubt on COVID vaccination as a whole, it needs to be said that Haiti& #39;s reported rejection of the AstraZeneca vaccine is not because the government is concerned with vaccine safety of effectiveness.
Why, then, did Haiti reject the AstraZeneca vaccine?
Per the original source, “the government has refused to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine due to ‘the global turmoil surrounding it,’ believing that the people of the country ‘will not accept it.’"
Per the original source, “the government has refused to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine due to ‘the global turmoil surrounding it,’ believing that the people of the country ‘will not accept it.’"
In other words, it was not because the Haitian government found the vaccine to be unsafe or ineffective; rather, it was because the discourse elsewhere gave the Haitian population concern.
The media panic in the rest of North America and Europe is thus undermining confidence in the AstraZeneca jab in places like Haiti as well.
Undoubtedly, the “global turmoil” regarding the vaccine fed into pre-existing Haitian skepticism of vaccination as well. As @jessicaobert notes, there is a lot of vaccine hesitancy in Haiti – much of which stems from underlying political concerns. https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2021/3/16/how-haitis-political-crisis-is-fanning-vaccine-fears">https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feat...
These political dynamics are crucial to understanding Haitian attitudes towards AstraZeneca & the COVID vaccines in general.
Much as Paul Farmer suggests in _AIDS & Accusation_ regarding Haitian rumors about AIDS, we should understand Haitian distrust of the vaccines to be an understandable response to how global health organizations & the international community have related to & engaged with Haiti.
There is a long history, after all, of vaccination programs & other health interventions being forced on Haiti – and not always with Haitian interests in mind.
To go along with the distrust of international health organizations, there is also a deep concern abut sovereignty in Haiti.
For many years Haiti has effectively been stripped of its sovereignty (most notably post-earthquake), so it seems that the Haitian government is making a show of asserting sovereignty here.
Note what the quoted government source is saying: “Since it& #39;s a gift, they want to impose it on us.”
In this commentary on the power dynamics inherent to charity & aid, the source is suggesting that rejecting AstraZeneca is rejecting an imposition on Haitian sovereignty.
In this commentary on the power dynamics inherent to charity & aid, the source is suggesting that rejecting AstraZeneca is rejecting an imposition on Haitian sovereignty.
There has been much talk of “vaccine nationalism” (and imperial health practices more broadly) throughout this pandemic, so perhaps we should understand Haiti’s reported rejection of AstraZeneca to be a case of “vaccine sovereignty.”
Now, would Haiti be making the right choice if it is indeed rejecting the AstraZeneca vaccine? I’m not convinced. Nonetheless, we should not dismiss the various concerns detailed above. They& #39;re going to continue to resurface throughout the pandemic and beyond.
Update: @nouvelliste is reporting that the Haitian government has confirmed that Haiti rejected the AstraZeneca vaccine & is asking for a different type. https://lenouvelliste.com/article/228156/le-gouvernement-haitien-reaffirme-sa-position-sur-le-vaccin-astrazeneca">https://lenouvelliste.com/article/2...
