The subject of the absence of a vaccination campaign against the coronavirus in Tunisia was invited into the arm wrestling between the presidency and the prime minister, the latter decreeing the opening of an investigation after the announcement by the first of the reception of 1000 doses donated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
After leaks, the presidency confirmed, Monday 1er March, having received 1,000 doses of vaccine, made available to the military health services, responsible for distributing them as a priority to nursing staff. The presidency told AFP that it was a ” gift “ from Abu Dhabi. The government, claiming not to be aware of anything, announced “An immediate investigation into the circumstances of the arrival of these vaccines, their management and their distribution”.
Unlike Algeria, Morocco or Egypt, which began their vaccination campaign at the end of January, Tunisia has still not started its own. Initially announced for mid-February, it was delayed by supply difficulties.
Commentators also point to the political quarrels that hinder decisions and the coordination of powers, in the midst of a social and health crisis. Symptom of political instability, Tunisia has changed health minister three times since the start of the pandemic. The executive is also torn over a reshuffle, decided to ensure the government the support of the majority parties in Parliament, but refused by President Kaïs Saïed, a fierce independent, due in particular to suspicion of conflicts of interest weighing on certain ministers. .
The controversy over vaccines began after the announcement of their arrival by elected officials on social networks, while, officially, the country is still awaiting its first doses of the UN Covax aid program, intended for the 200 poorest countries.
Rumors
Independent MP Yassine Ayari said on Facebook that he had been informed ” a few days ago “ of the arrival of these doses by diplomats. The scientific commission, heard Monday in Parliament, indicated that it was not aware of the arrival of these vaccines. Contacted by AFP, neither the presidency nor the defense ministry were able to give details on the type of vaccine or on the precise date of the arrival of the cargo.
Sign of the distrust of the population towards the political class, rumors according to which some parliamentarians have already been vaccinated are circulating. “The head of state Kaïs Saïed refused to be vaccinated” and “No member of his family” nor any “Official in the presidency” did not benefit from the vaccine, underlined Rym Kacem, person in charge of the communication at the palate of Carthage. In a statement released on Monday, Parliament denied having received vaccines “From anyone”, adding to be committed to respecting the national strategy, which provides for reserving the first doses for nursing staff.
Tunisia, which has nearly 12 million inhabitants, had initially announced a vaccination campaign from mid-February thanks to doses of the Covax device. But its launch was delayed by a month due to a delay in the arrival of vaccines.
The campaign will finally begin in March, the director of the Institut Pasteur, Hechmi Louzir, reaffirmed on Monday.
Last week, Beijing pledged to offer Tunis 100,000 doses in the coming days, as soon as logistics allow. After a peak in January, Tunisia still records dozens of deaths every day. Since the start of the epidemic, the country has recorded 233,277 cases of coronavirus contamination and 8,001 deaths due to Covid-19.
