Uzbekistan Denies Rumors Linking COVID Vaccines to Cancer

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Authorities in Uzbekistan have refuted claims that COVID-19 vaccination can allegedly cause cancer or other serious health consequences. First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Sanitary, Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health, Nurmat Atabekov, emphasized that such messages are completely unfounded.

He noted that since the start of the pandemic, 710 million people worldwide have contracted the virus, over 7 million of whom have died. Without vaccines or with irregular vaccination, the death toll could have been several times higher. Atabekov also highlighted that the vaccines in use do not negatively affect the human genome, as confirmed by scientific studies. In rare cases, some individuals experienced temporary side effects—such as fever, rapid heartbeat, or difficulty breathing—which resolve on their own within two to three days.

The official also addressed emerging recommendations to use herbs such as karabash and arslanpanjasi to “eliminate side effects,” noting that these remedies have no proven medical efficacy in the context of vaccination. Karabash has traditionally been used for colds, and arslanpanjasi for supporting hormonal balance in women; however, neither affects the immunity generated by the vaccine.

The Committee emphasized that vaccination has helped mitigate the epidemic situation and saved millions of lives worldwide. The Ministry of Health urged citizens to consult medical professionals before believing or sharing unverified information.