The NMSPs Central Covid -19 Prevention Committee has issued an instruction that all members of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) must take the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Our (NMSP) party has announced that people must become vaccinated. We have also distributed educational pamphlets. Although we have released statements and pamphlets, most party members and their families have not yet been vaccinated. So we re-analyzed the situation and issued the command. Every member must have the vaccine,” said Nai Banyar Lei, chair of NMSP Central’s COVID-19 Prevention.
Nai Banyar Lei added that in collaboration with the government’s health department, the NMSP is to receive 5,000 vaccine doses which will be used for NMSP members and their families, as well as for those volunteering (Parahihta group members).
The first phase of COVID-19 vaccines was provided to those in the WelZin and KaNee village areas. The NMSP is now preparing to provide the vaccine to people living in other controlled areas.
An official from NMSP’s Mawlamyine District, said they can handle up to 800 persons at vaccine clinics but only 200 people have registered. “Most are not interested in the vaccination”, concluded the official.
Vaccine hesitancy is thought to be growing due to false social media posts questioning effectiveness or wrongly suggesting there are health risks.
“We are given the opportunity for the COVID-19 vaccination. But I won’t add my name to the list. I heard from others that if we already have disease, we should not have the vaccine. I have illnesses such as blood pressure and diabetes. I think, this can be very dangerous for me,” said a female villager from Taungpauk Village, in Kyarinnseikkyi Township, Karen State.
People who have chronic diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes are actually the individuals who should be prioritized to take the vaccine, say medical experts.
Not taking the vaccine, if you have underlying or compromised health conditions, increases the risk of severe or fatal outcomes to Covid.
Medical centers have been established to fight against COVID-19 within NMSP controlled areas, including the villages near Thaton District in Karen State’s Kawkareik Township, and near Mawlamyine District in Kyarinnseikkyi Township.
