In Johannesburg protesters went on the street on the 25th of June to show their anger about testing the first COVID-19 vaccine in their country. The protest took place at the University of the Witwaterstrand, where tI‘m not against vaccinations, I‘m against profiteeringhe trial is based. The protest against testing the vaccine in South Africa has taken place, because a lot of drugs and medicine were tested in Africa, with poor people and people who are not aware about the risks. The vaccine was developed at the University of Oxford, in Great Britain. Around 2000 „volunteers“ in South Africa are expected to take part. A protester said „The people chosen as volunteers for the vaccination, they look as if they‘re from poor backgrounds, not qualified enough to understand“. He added „The narrative we got is our continent is a dumping ground“. That makes it clear: if there is a risk with testing, if there will be high risks and side effects, Africa will be a good place to test it. Where are the so-called „democratic rights“ of the western imperialist states, if it comes to their cruel activities in the African countries? Where is the nowadays so popular „equality“ if it comes to imperialist exploitation? We see, it does not exist!I‘m not against vaccinations, I‘m against profiteering The protesters shouted the slogans „We not guinea pigs“ and „No safe vaccine“. With that slogans they show the character of the vaccine testing in the poorest continent. Despite the Ethiopian director of the World Health Organization said that „only ethically and scientifically sound clinical trials for vaccines and therapies will be conducted in Africa“, the protesters know what was happening in their countries before. That‘s why another protester said: „I believe in science (...) I‘m not against vaccinations, I‘m against profiteering“. A lot of people died, because of vaccine testing in Africa, that is why they already know that it‘s not about people‘s health, but its about making money from the vaccine, about who has the monopoly of vaccine. The imperialist medical institution, who runs that trial for the vaccine, is „worried“ about the sentiment of the African people towards vaccination. The „Anti-vaccine“ sentiment in Africa would be „the worst I‘ve ever seen“, said the CEO of the GAVI vaccine alliance. That‘s another lie, which is brought up against the people‘s justified worries and demands. The reality is that a lot of people don‘t trust in the imperialist „aid“ and imperialist „medical institutions“, which they‘ve experienced not bringing health to the African people, but they are bloodsuckers who just care for their own interests, even if it‘s about medicine and health. The peoples have seen, that in the first place the imperialists and their media talked about the „advantages“ of the African countries in the Corona pandemic: Africa has a young population and African people are „used to epidemics“. But then Covid-19 also reached the African countries and no one is talking any more about these allegedly „advantages“. Then there were the „problem“ that the African people are not willing to do Corona-tests. The reality in a lot of countries was that the people should pay themselves a lot for quarantine, if they are tested positive. Obviousely no one goes to test, if they have not the money for quarantine. And now there is the next lie about „Anti-vaccine sentiment“. All these things show that most of what is discussed is not a scientific and health discussion, but a discussion about how to avoid the real problems of the people. The health care system has to be in service of the people, that is what we see from that discussions. As long as the health care is controlled by the imperialist monopols, which speak about „aid“, but practice exploitation and oppression, the peoples health will be at risk. The protests against vaccine testing in Africa is justified!
