By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT
tsmith-cartwright@tribunemedia.net
MEMBERS of the local Rastafarian community will reject the COVID-19 vaccine when it is made available in The Bahamas as it is against their religious beliefs, a representative said.
According to Empress Nicole, of the Women’s Freedom Liberation, Bahama Branch, Rastafarians would rather a more natural approach to keeping the COVID-19 virus at bay.
“Being a mother and a black woman, it would only be natural that one of the main concerns would mostly be with the COVID vaccine that we have been hearing so much about in the media. First, I would like to quote a portion of the Human Rights Article (9) which states that everyone has the freedom of thought, belief and religion and it also goes on, in depth, to talk about one’s preferences in regards to eating and what one would intake,” she told The Tribune.
“From the very inception of Rastafari, it is a known fact that the followers of the Rastafarian faith have strong beliefs and practice in the strict use of all-natural remedies in the case of preventing and curing any illnesses. Hence, it will be our God-given right, as well as our human rights, to reject this COVID-19 vaccine, whenever it reaches this part of the world.”
The government has made a $250,000 down payment to secure a COVID-19 vaccine through the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), however Minister of Health Renward Wells has stressed that no one will be forced to take the injection once it becomes available.
“No matter what vaccine is recommended by PAHO or any other organisation, Bahamian residents are to be assured that the vaccines will be subject to all appropriate trials approved by notable agencies and will be available to Bahamians who wish to take the vaccine,” Mr Wells said in October.
“I wish to emphasise that a COVID-19 vaccine will not be forced on anyone who does not wish to take it.”
This comes amid scepticism in some quarters about the new COVID-19 vaccines, which were produced in record time by scientists around the globe. The United States and the United Kingdom have both begun vaccinating their citizens against the new coronavirus, however the Bahamas is not expected to receive a vaccine until at least Spring 2021 or later.
Amid the vaccine roll out, there have been reports that some people have experienced severe allergic reactions after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
On its website, the US Centre for Disease Control says it “understands some people may be concerned about getting vaccinated” for the disease.
However, the CDC has sought to calm these fears.
“All COVID-19 vaccines that are in development or being distributed are being carefully evaluated in clinical trials and will be authorised or approved only if they make it substantially less likely you’ll get COVID-19,” the CDC says.
“Based on what we know about vaccines for other diseases and early data from clinical trials, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may also help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19.
“Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
“Experts continue to conduct more studies about the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on the severity of illness from COVID-19, as well as its ability to keep people from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19,” the CDC says.
Shifting gears, Empress Nicole said perhaps Rastafarians are just misunderstood because of their religious beliefs.
She said: “As a Rastafarian woman and a healer, this (COVID-19 vaccine) really concerns me. Growing up in Rastafari, as a student I was very involved in various sports and extracurricular activities, I was faced with a lot of discrimination and a lot of misinterpretation of Rastafari and the way that we carry ourselves. There are a lot of things that we don’t deal with like saying the pledge and the national anthem as we pledge our allegiance to Ethiopia, Africa.”
The Tribune contacted several health officials to ascertain if there was education available on the vaccine for people like the Rastafarians. However, health officials did not respond up to press time.
Comments
TalRussell 3 years, 8 months ago
Let Comrade Sister Empress Nicole of the Women’s Freedom Liberation act as a wake-up call for the ministry of health to commence a dialog with the colony's branch Rastafarians at large within the Rastafarian community's voicing their strong reject the COVID-19 vaccine. Shakehead a quick once for upyeahvote, a slow twice for not?
JokeyJack 3 years, 8 months ago
Min. Wells makes a good statement about government not requiring it - but we haven't heard anything about government standing up to banks and others who may choose to require proof of vaccination to enter their bank as a customer, and the MANY businesses who may require their employees to provide such proof. There was an article on this a few months ago, and no follow-up since.
My guess is that govt won't require it (cause that would be again the Constitution) - but business will. The Australian airline has already said it will require it to fly, and the CEO said other airlines have voiced similar thoughts in private conversations with him. We already need health visa to travel - perhaps that will now be a permanent thing and they will just invent new strains (like they did in UK last week) to keep the excuse up and running.
I predict that the world is going to see a crime wave like never before in history, as people find it increasingly impossible to exist as human beings under various governments' tyrannies.
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 8 months ago
Invent new strains????
Jesus! The conspiracy theories get dumber and dumber. Is it that you idiots just watch too many movies. Or are you all just paranoid and ignorant?
How do we fight these idiotic conspiracy theories? Can they be excluded from free speech? Something has to be done. Imagine actually believing Bill Gates wants to play Thanos and kill half of earth's population! How do you react to something so incredibly stupid????
Yet when we call them morons we're the bad guy!
It's just stupid...
joeblow 3 years, 8 months ago
Rastas also generally say no to common sense so I don't know that to make of this!
Concerning natural remedies, maybe try garlic although that did not help the Italians!
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 8 months ago
exercise seems to work. Rastafari may have the answer on this one, you don't see many overweight Rastafarians and weight sems to play a huge factor in negative outcomes... certainly in our country
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