And Dr Cuellar also reminded Belizeans that this vaccine is safe. And while out of the billions of people who take the vaccinations, some will have adverse side effects, which is just like every single drug on the market - even Tylenol.
Cuellar also said that there are some who won't be able to take the vaccine, but that number is low, and they will rely on herd immunity to protect them. He called the information being put out by the BJRM as irresponsible.
Reporter
"Can we talk about the AstraZeneca specifically where they said that this particular vaccine was the reject vaccine from countries like the US."
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Internist
"They had a surplus and they just shared it with other part of the country. We also know that AstraZeneca/Oxford was originated in England, so if you want talk about us being the dumping ground or whatever you want to call it, that's not true. The ones that we are using right now has proven to be quite effective and safe."
Reporter
"They spoke about an international lawsuit that they want to be a part of against the vaccine movement. I don't know if you are privy to any such lawsuit."
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Internist
"We've been hearing about it from the beginning that there some class action lawsuit. I wish them luck. They have a right to pursue until CCJ or the Pricy Council or whatever. And I'll give the ammunition, so to speak, and I haven't heard it mentioned before, the WHO has actually set aside money for liabilities as it relates to vaccines. Because they have recognized that out of the 3 billion people that has gotten it, or 2 billion, a few will get serious side effects of the vaccine. Nobody said no. So, for those cases that indeed do have serious consequences from the vaccine, there is a fund being created to compensate these people/ Let them research that. Let them know about these things and because the people who are involved in the vaccine realize that there will be some people who develop serious illnesses from it. There will be some people who I have advised not to take the vaccine, because of their medical conditions. Out of 100 people, maybe one of them would be eligible to take the vaccine and that's fair. that is our responsibility to make sound recommendation. Its definitely misguided. I don't want to use no other words. I think its misguided. I think their information is not sound and indeed if you go on the media and the public and give wrong information, I think is very irresponsible."
Dr Cuellar also noted that while the survival rate of the virus is high, the long term effects that one can experience even after recovery include fatigue, headaches, joint pains, and more.
