Two French doctors have been accused of racism for suggesting that a new coronavirus vaccine should be tested on people in Africa first.
The remarks were made on the French television channel, LCI, during a debate about COVID-19 trials set to be launched in Europe and Australia to see whether the BCG tuberculosis vaccine could be used to cure the virus.
Jean-Paul Mira, the head of the Cochin Hospital intensive care unit in Paris said, “It may be provocative. Should we not do this study in Africa where there are no masks, no treatment or intensive care, a little bit like it’s been done for certain AIDS studies, where among prostitutes, we try things, because we know that they are highly exposed and don’t protect themselves?”
Camille Locht, Director of Research at France’s national health institute, Inserm added, “You are right. And by the way, we are thinking of in parallel about a study in Africa using this same approach.”
The comments received an angry response on social media, including from former footballers Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o and actor John Boyega.
On Friday Dr Mira apologised for his comments, saying in a statement released by his employer, “I want to present all my apologies to those who were hurt, shocked and felt insulted by the remarks that I clumsily expressed on LCI this week.”