In an about-turn, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has withdrawn its statement that COVID-19 vaccines have an impact on women’s reproductive health, following pressure from the Health Department and an array of medical organisations.
PLEASE WRITE IN SOME OF THE BACKSTORY. ALSO, IS FULL STATEMENT NOT AVAILABLE
To compensate for its gaffe, the commission will be “coordinating various education drives, in collaboration with health and medical experts”.
In a statement, the CGE admitted it had “erroneously quoted an article published in a medical journal which alleges possible negative consequences of vaccination on women’s sexual and reproductive health”.
On 16 January, reports News24, the commission had released a statement that quoted a medical journal “that alleged possible consequences of vaccination on women’s reproductive health”.
However, the Health Department disputed the claims made by the CGE, saying it had not considered all available evidence and the substantial benefit associated with vaccinating women of reproductive age and pregnant women.
“We further regret that it led to unnecessary distraction of public attention away from our common fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” CGE spokesperson Javu Baloyi said in a statement.
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Gender Commission under crossfire over ‘ill-advised’ stance on vaccinations
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