The Central African Republic continues to grapple with numerous epidemic and pandemic diseases that pose a public health threat. In response to these issues, the government, through the Ministry of Public Health and Population, regularly organizes vaccination campaigns to protect and prevent such incidents.
The recent campaign has focused on combating poliomyelitis and COVID-19, led by the Ministry of Public Health and Population, aiming to prevent and address these diseases that impact the population, particularly children. However, conspiracy theories and rumors about these vaccines persist.
One such rumor involves the polio vaccine combined with Vitamin A supplementation. This misinformation aims to undermine vaccination campaigns against poliomyelitis. Vitamin A is often administered as a supplement to boost children’s immune systems to better combat this disease.
Furthermore, this rumor seeks to increase parents’—especially mothers’—resistance and distrust towards vaccinating their children. It falsely suggests that Vitamin A supplementation combined with the polio vaccine will make children mediocre in the future. This claim is unfounded and has been disproven by health experts.
To verify this information, Centrafrique Check contacted several health specialists:
Dr. Nabinala Dany Mira, focal point for the urban vaccination strategy at the Ministry of Public Health and Population, stated: “Vitamin A strengthens children’s immunity; on the contrary, it protects them against diseases and infections. Vitamin A cannot make children mediocre; that is false.”
Dr. Anicet Médard Ngbayou, Chief Medical Officer at the Malimaka Health Center in the 5th arrondissement of Bangui, added: “Studies are needed to confirm this information. In short, one would need to take a sample of the population and verify which children who received Vitamin A are mediocre or exceptional. No scientific study has been conducted on this.”
He continued: “Experiments show that Vitamin A supports bone growth in length and thickness. It has a positive effect on children’s vision,” he concluded.
Evelyne Tallo, a mother of six children and four grandchildren from the Boy Rabe neighborhood in the 4th arrondissement of Bangui, shared: “My children have always been vaccinated during vaccination campaigns and have also received Vitamin A. This information is surprising to me, as my children have become professionals in various companies in the country.”
According to “Nutrition International,” a Canada-based organization working to eliminate vitamin and mineral deficiencies in developing countries: “Vitamin A helps strengthen the immune system and protects children under five from preventable diseases and blindness.”
“Administering two doses of Vitamin A per year to children under five reduces the risk of death, decreases the number of diarrhea episodes, and gradually reduces the risk of stunted growth.”
It is important to emphasize that the claim that Vitamin A makes children mediocre is false and lacks scientific basis, as confirmed by Centrafrique Check.
This article is edited by Esdras Michael Ndamoyen.
