Joel Tsvakwi
A HEALTH expert in Matabeleland North province has advised people with uncontrolled hypertension not to take the jab.
This comes at a time the province, just like other parts of the country has started the Covid-19 vaccination programme, aimed at curbing the spread of the pandemic.
Addressing journalists Provincial Medical Director Dr Munekai Padingani said: “If your hypertension is well controlled you can take the vaccination. But if your hypertension is not under control according to the manufacture you are not supposed to take the vaccines.”
Medical experts define hypertension as high blood pressure which is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries as it flows through them.
Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the body’s tissues.
If left untreated, hypertension can lead to such medical conditions as arteriosclerosis, also called atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, enlarged heart and kidney damage.
Dr Pandingani also stated that people who are taking human suppressed medicines are not supposed to take the vaccine.
Responding to questions on whether people living HIV and Aids should take the jab, he said they can, based on one’s viral load.
“HIV person with low viral load can take the vaccination while those with high viral load should not take the vaccination,” said Dr Padingani.
According to Dr Edward Parker, a research fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, early reports from China suggest that – when it comes to Covid-19 – the viral load is higher in patients with more severe disease.
