SOUTH SUDAN: Wau Catholic Bishop Encourages People of South Sudan to Go for AstraZeneca Vaccine Saying it Has no Side-effect

Ginaba Lino

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wau has encouraged the people of South Sudan to turn up for AstraZeneca vaccine adding that the vaccine is not harmful.

On 7, of September 2021 Bishop Mathew Remijo Adam Gbitiku received his first Covid19 vaccine jab and has conformed that the vaccine has no any effect.

“Up to now there is no any effect since I took my first dose and I would like to say all the people of South Sudan, all believers, should take this issue of Covid19 seriously and we protect ourselves from this deadly disease.”

He continued saying, “The first AstraZeneca which came some months back we could not get it because we were not ready due to pastoral activities in the dioceses. We thank God because we have a second chance and we say that we should get organized to go for it, starting with me the Bishop, priests, Sisters and all the workers who are working under the Catholic Diocese of Wau; those who received the first vaccine should go for the second dose while those who didn’t should go for the first dose.”

Meanwhile the Diocesan health coordinator Dr. Jurel Payii Mamur stated that people should not fear the vaccine because the vaccine has been approved by the government and World Health Organization (WHO)

He confirmed that the Bishop received his first jab and that it is has caused no endangering effect on him.

“On 7 September 2021 we brought team from Wau teaching Hospital to come and vaccinate the Bishop and priests leaving in Wau Diocese. We started with His Lordship and we are continuing with the vaccination to all the priests up to the workers in the Diocese because it’s very important to get the vaccine”.

The Bishop also calls on his fellow bishops in South Sudan to encourage their priests to go for the vaccine because it’s the only way they can prevent themselves from Covid19.

The vaccination program was organized by the Diocesan Secretariat Health office with the help of the State Ministry of Health in Wau.