Surgeon, artist and humanitarian Dr. Muyombo Thomas, commonly known as Tom Close, took the vaccine meant for the Marburg virus. He reassures the public that there is no reason to panic because the vaccine is effective.
Tom Close was able to ask this in a short interview with IGIHE following the vaccination.
He said, “I had no worries. What is there to worry about? Is dying the baddest thing? Until now, the only known deceased were doctors from well established facilities that had adhered to the very strict guidelines regarding staff safety, therefore, there is no reason to panic at all.”
Tom Close made this point clear when more doctors started taking the vaccine since they were at high risk of getting the virus infection.
As an artist as well as a physician in the team responding to the Marburg outbreak, he has posted on social media in support of the doctors getting vaccinated to prevent the people with the disease more efficiently.
There are 36 individuals still on treatment, eight of the cases have been discharged after recovery. In all, 2,387 individuals have been screened for the disease.
The Ministry of Health stated not too long ago that, from October 6, 2024, the vaccination program for medical practitioners and other groups at risk would commence.