Liberian Scientist Blasts Bong Lawmaker

The Lead Scientist for the trial vaccine exercise against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, Dr. Stephen Kennedy, has maintained that there are no serious side-effects associated with the vaccine.

Last week, a Bong County Senator called for the government to halt the current vaccine trial due to fear of side effects.

The Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor claimed that Liberians were being used as ‘guinea pigs’ for the vaccine.

But Dr. Kennedy, a son of Bong County rubbished the Senator Taylor’s claims, admonishing people of the county to be excited about his involvement.

Dr. Stephen Kennedy, a World Health Organization or WHO- accredited scientist, told our Bong County Correspondent last weekend that side effects of the vaccine are normal illnesses like fever, running stomach and others.

According to him, before the trial in Liberia, similar trials took place in the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Mali, Gabon, as well as Botswana, among others, describing those trials as all successful.

The Liberian scientist told our correspondent that so far, the process in Liberia has been successful, owing to the number of persons voluntarily turning-out to take the vaccine.

Dr. Kennedy said of the number of Liberians who have received the trial-vaccine, some have reported headaches, fever and other common illnesses, adding that it does not go beyond these.

He urged all Liberians to embrace the process, as Liberia is on the road to making  history.

By Papa Morris from Gbarnga, Bong County