Burundi says it will accept COVID vaccines

STORY: Burundi Virus Vaccine - Burundi says it will accept COVID vaccines

LENGTH: 02:17

FIRST RUN: 1452

RESTRICTIONS:

TYPE: French/Kirundi/Natsound

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

STORY NUMBER: 4338214

DATELINE: 29 July 2021 - Bujumbura

SHOTLIST:

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bujumbura, Burundi - 29 July 2021

1. Various of people queuing and waiting to get tested for COVID-19

2. Woman getting tested for COVID-19

3. COVID-19 tests on table

4. SOUNDBITE (French) Thaddée Ndikumana, Burundi Minister of Public Health:

"We sent multidisciplinary medical teams, including laboratory assistants, doctors, nurses and psychologists to be able to provide support. It has taken a week to get here. We hope that in two weeks we will be able to control the pandemic in these districts."

5. Workers at COVID-19 testing centre

6. Child getting tested for COVID-19

7. Child's temperature being checked

8. SOUNDBITE (Kirundi) Jean Barengayabo, resident of Kiremba:

"This poison (COVID-19) arrived at our home recently. We had heard about it from far off places. God had spared us."

9. People queuing and waiting to get tested for COVID-19

10. Various of people washing hands

11. SOUNDBITE (French) Thaddée Ndikumana, Burundi Minister of Public Health:

"The strategy of the Ministry of Health is to be able to provide support in places where there is an increase in cases. Active screening is carried out to curb the pandemic. This is what we do."

12. Various of Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye (wearing blue vest and cap) talking to medical practitioners

13. Cars driving on road in Bujumbura with pedestrians and poster of Ndayishimiye in background

14. Cars driving on road in Bujumbura

15. Pan left in shop that sells arts and craft to shop owner Marie Vianey Ndikumana

16. SOUNDBITE (French) Marie Vianey Ndikumana, owner of arts and crafts shop in Bujumbura:

"It is really necessary to use this vaccine for the good of our country and the people of Burundi."

17. People inside shop reflected in mirror

18. SOUNDBITE (French) Michou Miracle, Burundian journalist:

"The World Health Organization still has doubts about these vaccines so why is the World Bank sending us vaccines that are not 100% safe? I am categorical, we do not need these vaccines."

19. Cars driving on road in Bujumbura with pedestrians and poster of Ndayishimiye in background

STORYLINE:

Burundi is preparing to accept its first COVID-19 vaccines after becoming one of the last countries in the world to embrace them.

Health Minister Thaddee Ndikumana announced the government reversal last week and said vaccines will arrive with the support of the World Bank.

It was not immediately clear how many doses the East African country will receive or when.

Burundi continues to carry out mass screenings for the virus, with Ndikumana saying he expected to control the latest uptick in infections by mid-August.

He has said the government will store the incoming vaccine doses but will not take responsibility for any side effects.

Marie Vianey Ndikumana, the owner of an arts and crafts shop in Bujumbura, said she felt it was "really necessary" for Burundi to begin its vaccine rollout "for the good of our country".

But journalist Michou Miracle told the AP she remained sceptical of the safety of the shots and they were "not needed".

Burundi's announcement on July 29 came the same day that neighbouring Tanzania launched its vaccination campaign, retreating from former resident John Magufuli's denial of the pandemic.

He died in March and the presidency went to his deputy Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has since reversed course on COVID-19 in one of Africa's most populous countries.

Burundi's late president Pierre Nkurunziza, who died last year, also was criticized for taking the pandemic lightly.

The administration of his successor, President Evariste Ndayishimiye, earlier this year said the country of more than 11 million people didn't yet need COVID-19 vaccines.

Burundi has had more than 7,500 confirmed infections, according to the World Health Organization.

Burundi's decision leaves Eritrea, one of the world's most closed-off nations, as the only African country that hasn't accepted the vaccines.

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