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.