BBC Releases Report Addressing Chris Oyakhilome’s “Malaria Vaccine Conspiracy Theories”

The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) has published a report discussing Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s criticism of the malaria vaccine in Africa.

The BBC’s report, released on Wednesday, April 17, described the clergyman as a vocal opponent of the vaccine, citing him as stating, “…there was never proof that vaccines ever worked.”

Referring to one of Oyakhilome’s YouTube broadcasts, the online media platform stated that he asserts everyone has been deceived regarding the vaccine.

The broadcasting company reported that certain medical professionals worry that the pastor’s sermons opposing the vaccine could have adverse effects on Africa’s efforts to combat the disease.

As reported by the paper, in August 2023, the pastor had warned in a sermon of “an evil agenda that has been long in the making”, apart from alleging that “malaria was never a problem to those in Africa.”

According to the platform, a World Health Organisation (WHO) spokesman, while reacting to the cleric’s submission, said, “Spreading false information about vaccines, especially from influential figures like religious leaders, can contribute to the perpetuation of myths and misconceptions, further fuelling vaccine hesitancy. “This can have devastating consequences for public health, particularly in the WHO African region, where vaccine-preventable diseases occur frequently.”

Furthermore, it was discovered that Pastor Oyakhilome’s comments were highlighted as one of the disinformation trends “to monitor” prior to the rollout of the malaria vaccine, as stated in a report released in March by The Africa Infodemic Response Alliance, supported by WHO.

The BBC stated that they reached out to Oyakhilome via email regarding his statements against vaccination but received no response.

Osun Defender is aware that in a viral video, the pastor stated that one cannot claim to believe in Jesus Christ and simultaneously fear viruses. He added that in the Bible, Jesus healed the sick by physically touching them.