Kenyans are incensed by the latest COVID-19 vaccine trial comments on the BBC suggesting that British scientists could start their trials in Kenya if tests in the UK don’t get the expected results.
Fergus Walsh, the BBC medical correspondent, whiles speaking on the World Service about his thoughts on how successful the trial in the UK could be, made the comments that have attracted the backlash.
His words: “We could be careful not to over-promise because we are desperate for this vaccine to work but the team in Oxford has a really strong record going back 30 years. They have developed successful prototype vaccines against another type of coronavirus, MERS.
“… which has done well in clinical trials, they’ve also developed vaccines against plague, malaria (now) if they don’t get early quick results from the UK they are considering a trial in Kenya where the epidemic of the coronavirus will be on the rise.”
“As far as I know, this vaccine is known to produce a strong antibody response but that doesn’t necessarily equate to protection. And we are going to need many vaccines with dozens in development.
“Then we will need billions of doses and expect a huge debate over which countries and which groups of people get the vaccine first.”
Kenyans have taken to social media with fume over the remarks.
The French medics just mentioned Africa as a potential testing ground. Now a senior @BBCWorld journalist @BBCFergusWalsh thinks that Kenya should be a testing ground.
We are his guinea pigs. Idiot!! pic.twitter.com/vtkZkBV39c
— Robert ALAI, HSC (@RobertAlai) April 24, 2020
They probably want to mess with our DNA through RNA…the vaccine will have nano particle-like bacteriophage.
I know why they choose Kenya…gentile scum. Because we have virtually no one standing up against #BigPharma – Kenya is full of #sellouts
Vaccines = eugenics— Amerucan_Bantu (@amerucan_bantu) April 24, 2020
Welcome to Kenya where the former colonial masters/ neocolonialist still believe we are not fit to be humans! We are now officially Guinea pig! Fit for #COVID19 vaccine trials! That’s why I doubt the numbers? It’s either about the benjamins or extinction!! UK numbers vs Kenya ??? pic.twitter.com/7TKrhSjKjm
— Sen. Ledama Olekina (@ledamalekina) April 24, 2020
So Kenya will be a Testing spot for vaccines! I think our Politicians have already sold us out. So if testing doesn't work in the UK as expected then trials will have to be done in Kenya. Huh! 🤔
— BRAVIN YURI (@BravinYuri) April 24, 2020
So Kenya will be used to test the new vaccine from Oxford. Who will be willing to be used as a lab rat?
— Collins (@Nyamweyacollo) April 24, 2020
Europeans must Respect Africa
U.K. scientists are now considering coronavirus vaccine trials in Kenya after two French Scientists Racist attempt to use Africans as Guinea Pigs failed miserably.
Are they testing our Patience or playing with our psychology? pic.twitter.com/2uek25xBzR— GPAN (@AfricaRepublic) April 24, 2020
