‘Blood Cupping Doesn’t Remove COVID-19 Vaccine’

The cupping of blood that is allegedly taking place around Fiji does not work to remove the COVID-19 vaccine, says Assistant Director Medical Services Dr Ilikini Naitini.

Dr Naitini spoke at the inaugural meeting of the Pacific Islands Society for Emergency Care (PISEC) at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi on Thursday.

Dr Naitini presented on improving Fiji’s pre-hospital response during COVID-19, highlighting the creation of a more efficient dispatch and retrieval system developed through pandemic experience. He stressed the need for ongoing government and donor support to sustain and enhance this system.

He was questioned on information and news shared on social media from a few overseas medical professions on that effects of vaccines.

In a circulating video, a medical professional claimed that worms and blood clot, which appear to be like rubber, were found in the dead bodies of those who were found to be vaccinated.

Evidence-based research

He said they relied on research and evidence-based information rather than rumours or fear-mongering.

“To be honest, the first thing is that, we are already vaccinated and the techniques that are being implemented nowadays to try and get the vaccine out, it don’t work,” he said.

“But on the effects of the vaccine itself, we are still in research and evidence-based work. I acknowledge that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done surrounding the vaccine and the effects of the vaccine. It is sort of still uncharted water.

Dr Naitini said he was aware of the rumours circulating, but explained that health professionals do not follow such claims blindly.

Instead, they wait for proper research or published articles and carry out due diligence to ensure the studies are credible before making any public comments.

“The things going around about cupping — it doesn’t work that way. Just like any other injection, once it is administered, it goes through your body. Cupping doesn’t work, and it doesn’t remove the vaccine,” he said.

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