Country has no fatality related to covid-19 vaccine side-effects, Health Minister Bosawai tells Parliament
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Solomon Islands has not recorded any deaths related to side-effects of Covid-19 vaccines, says Health Minister Dr Paul Popora Bosawai.
Speaking in parliament yesterday, he said the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has ‘not been informed nor investigated any unexpected deaths related to Covid-19 vaccinations.
Bosawai was responding to the question “Can the Minister update the house on any recorded case of unexpected deaths linked to COVID 19 vaccinations?” put forth by the Member of Parliament for West Kwara’ae, Alfred Tuasulia.
“The Minister of Health and Medical Services has not been informed nor investigated any related deaths to COVID-19 vaccination since the commencement of the COVID-19 vaccination programme started in 2019. Hence, there are no records, unexpected details that link to covid-19,” Bosawai said.
He added that data from the National Referral Hospital (NRH) also shows that there are no deaths recorded due to Covid-19 vaccination side effects.
Bosawai said 22 children who were admitted with respiratory illness, but also positive with covid-19 in 2023 are all alive, recovered and discharged plus multiple major studies and other global health authorities, also do not find any link between Covid-19 vaccine and early or sudden death.
He said that research consistently showed that Covid-19 vaccination significantly reduced the risk of death from the virus.
“The claims linking vaccination to a shorter lifespan or sudden death have been widely discredited as misinformation,” he said.
Bosawai said that the thoughts that vaccination induces premature death circulated is not only in the Solomon Islands, but in other countries as well.
He said in terms of reduced overall mortality, extensive research is indicating that Covid-19 vaccines are associated with a reduced risk of death from any cause among vaccinated individuals.
Bosawai mentioned that other multiple studies have also indicated and found no connection between Covid-19 vaccination and sudden or unexplained death.
Opposition Leader Matthew Wale commended the Minister and at the same time questioned the implications of Del or long covid.
“Regarding the issue of long covid (Delta covid), research conducted overseas has shown that it is a significant concern. Is this related to the vaccination or the covid virus itself? If so, do we have instances of long covid in the Solomon Islands? If we do, how many cases are there, and how serious is the situation?” he asked.
In response, Bosawai said it resembles an earthquake, akin to experiencing aftershocks.
“Indeed, we have cases. However, it is crucial to grasp the virus’s mutation and behavior. Many people now refer to it as a common flu, yet we are not conducting tests for it. I cannot dismiss the possibility that it does not exist in the Solomon Islands,” he said.
Wale opposed, however, that according to an overseas medical journal he read, the situation is not as Bosawai portrayed.
“It is not merely the aftermath of an earthquake. It is akin to a major earthquake that follows smaller shocks. Patients are severely debilitated, struggling to rise, and even young individuals lack energy for months, making it seem more severe than the initial covid infection itself.
“My inquiry was whether we have any cases of this, or if we have somehow avoided the more severe consequences,” Wale said.
In response, Bosawai said he would investigate further.
“I currently do not have data on this matter, but I will look into it. It is essential that we revisit and reinvest in our diagnostic tools to re-evaluate covid,” Bosawai said.
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