The Ministry of Health (MoH), represented by the Directorate General of Disease Control and Surveillance, in collaboration with US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), launched the Public Health Empowerment Programme - Basic Field Epidemiology on Sunday
May 5, 2021 Share
Iraq’s vaccine roll-out had been faltering for weeks. Apathy, fear and rumors kept many from getting vaccinated despite a serious surge in coronavirus infections and calls by the government for people to register for shots.
It took a populist Shiite cleric’s public endorsement of vaccinations and images of him getting the shot last week to turn things around.
Hundreds of followers of Muqtada al-Sadr are now heading to clinics to follow his example, underscoring the power of sectarian loyalties in Iraq and deep mistrust of the state.
“I was against the idea of being vaccinated. I was afraid, I didn’t believe in it,” said Manhil Alshabli, a 30-year-old Iraqi from the holy city of Najaf. “But all this has changed now.”
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s vaccine roll-out had been faltering for weeks. Apathy, fear and rumors kept many from getting vaccinated despite a serious surge in coronavirus infections and calls by
Abdulrahman Zeyad
A follower of populist Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr holds a picture of him while waiting with others to receive a dose of the Chinese Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine at a clinic in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, May 4, 2021. Iraqâs vaccine rollout had been faltering for weeks. Apathy, fear and rumors kept many from getting vaccinated despite a serious surge in coronavirus infections and calls by the government for people to register for shots. It took al-Sadrâs public endorsement of vaccinations â and images of him getting the shot â to turn things around. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) May 05, 2021 - 12:34 AM
Iraqi Shiite Cleric s Public COVID Vaccination Prompting Others to Follow Suit
On 5/5/21 at 11:15 AM EDT
An Iraqi Shiite cleric s public COVID-19 vaccination has caused hundreds of his followers to head to clinics to get vaccinated, as fear and rumors have stunted Iraq s vaccine rollout among a second wave of infections, the Associated Press reported.
Public images of populist Shiite Muqtada al-Sadr getting vaccinated last week circulating online has prompted many to put aside their distrust of the Iraqi government, which called for its citizens to get vaccinated. I was against the idea of being vaccinated. I was afraid, I didn t believe in it, Manhil Alshabli, 30, told the AP. But all this has changed now.