13 INDIGENOUS MEXICAN TOWNSHIPS NIX COVID-19 VACCINE JABS

Thirteen townships in Mexico have decided not to vaccinate their residents against COVID-19, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday during his daily press conference, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

Most of the towns are in the indigenous southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, according to health officials. There, people's opposition to the jab is founded on their cultural and religious beliefs, alongside fears of possible side effects.

Often in indigenous communities, decisions are made in assemblies and apply to all members. There are around 2,500 towns in Mexico.

Lopez Obrador also said that he would be publicly vaccinated on Tuesday in order to allay fears about the jab among the populace.

He had COVID-19 in January and said a few weeks ago that he would not need to be vaccinated as he had enough protective antibodies.

Since the pandemic began, Lopez Obrador has repeatedly downplayed the danger of COVID-19. So far, Mexico is vaccinating public health workers, some teachers, and people who are over the age of 60.

Mexico has registered the third-highest death rate worldwide, according to official figures. The country's vaccination campaign is among the slowest in the world.

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