SA’s first nurse to get jab dies, but hospital says there is no link
The Karl Bremer Hospital has confirmed that staffer Iris Adams – who was the first nurse to receive the Covid vaccine in South Africa – has died, but that this was not as a result of the jab.
“We can confirm that Sister Iris Adams has sadly died. She was a valued member of our team and an advocate for our vaccination programme. Adams did not die due to the Covid vaccine,” the hospital said yesterday in a statement.
The hospital also continued to encourage community members to get their vaccines.
“It remains the best defence against the virus, and it can reduce the chances of serious illness, hospitalisation and death due to Covid,” it said.
Earlier this week, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) tweeted: “SA’s first nurse to accept a Covid vaccine has since died. Government and the hysterical ‘vaxx everyone’ group will refuse to link it to the vaxx even when it’s clear.
“This is not an isolated instance and judging from what’s happening in other countries, SA’s truth remains hidden.”
When contacted by The Citizen, though, the ACDP’s national elections manager, Grant Haskin, said the party had simply reshared information that was already circulating on social media.
“This was shared on social media already a couple of weeks ago. We don’t have any more details than what we shared and what is being claimed, it’s something we haven’t investigated ourselves – that’s something the health department needs to confirm,” he said.
National health spokesperson Popo Maja said yesterday that “so far, none of the deaths that were reported have been caused by vaccination”.
Epidemiologist Dr Jo Barnes, meanwhile, said the
South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) carefully followed up any cases where there was a suspicion that the vaccination may have been involved in the person’s death.
“As far as I know, there has not been a case in South Africa where a person died directly of the vaccination.
“Most of the very low number of deaths, below 50 for the millions of persons vaccinated if I remember correctly, occurred in persons with serious co-morbidities,” she said. Barnes said people who contracted Covid shortly after vaccination usually had the virus before they received the vaccine. “People are at their most infectious for a couple of days before they show symptoms, so they are not aware that they are already infected,” she said.
The epidemiologist said it was highly unethical for a political party to use their election platform to spread such unverified allegations to their constituency during a pandemic.
“The only way South Africa will be able to get itself out of this massive economic and health crisis is to vaccinate the population.
“Vaccination is not just a matter of personal choice.
“Refusing vaccination endangers the lives of the people dependent on those with such unfounded opinions and on their ability to earn a living,” said Barnes.
Vaccination is not just a matter of personal choice
Iapplaud Kenyan judge Teresiah Matheka in recognising the hard work that goes into housework and her ruling that unpaid labour get its dues. She was able to legally bring to light the fact that maternity is more than just a time to bond with baby.
It is hard work, with no set hours, no remuneration package and no benefits in the event of a dissolution of the marriage.
When my kid was born, I took a leave of absence from my everyday field of work. I was home for a full year and six months. The intention was to see my child grow.
I was fortunate enough to be home for the milestones, but with the milestones came the illnesses and late nights.
I gave up me time in order to give him the best quality of life.
During this time, the house needed to be kept clean, the laundry done and food had to be cooked.
Suffice to say I was constantly exhausted and by the time I went back to the world of work, I realised I did not rest at all.
The concept of only tangible income is one society has constructed. It believes this is what homes are built on.
This notion is devoid of the truth.
While one partner is in meetings and working late nights and early mornings to pay bills and put food on the table, another is providing the home support and child care that allows the former the comfort of going about his or her business in the knowledge that the children and home are in the hands of someone equally invested and with as much to gain … or even lose!
As such, the insult of not quantifying the work done by housewives and women on maternity leave should be forever banished.
In South Africa, maintenance courts are under siege because the finances of mainly women and vulnerable children are affected by a breach.
South Africa remains a land of applaudable legislation on paper, yet it is a perfect example as to how far behind we really are as a nation that cares equally for men and women and their contributions, even if those contributions don’t bring in the money.