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Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina returned to his firm stance against the coronavirus vaccination on Friday, accepting the mass inoculation but standing by an infusion of herbs he touted as a “cure”.
Rajoelina, 46, came under heavy criticism after saying this weekend that he would not be vaccinated against Covid and that he was in no rush to release the jab to the public.
He has tirelessly promoted a locally brewed infusion made from the antimalarial plant artemisia to fight the virus.
But in a statement Friday, his office said the government “will research and use effective vaccines” against the virus.
The decision was announced after a meeting between Rajoelina and the National Academy of Medicine.
“It has been decided that taking vaccines is a choice and should not be compulsory,” said the presidency, without specifying which vaccines will be purchased.
The government has continued to boast about the virtues of herbal medicine called Covid-Organics or CVO, which is sold as a beverage and capsule.
“The use of the Malagasy product Covid-Organics … as part of the preventive and curative treatment Covid-19 is maintained and still in force,” said the press release.
Experts have warned against brewing, saying it hasn’t been scientifically tested to see if it’s safe or effective.
The Indian Ocean island nation has counted more than 23,000 cases of Covid-19, of which just over 360 have been fatal.
He is currently battling a second wave of infections, especially due to the presence of a highly transmissible variant first discovered in South Africa.
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