Protest in Belgrade over 'announced coronavirus vaccine testing'

(Patria) - Several dozen citizens protested in front of the Institute of Public Health "Batut" in Belgrade in protest against, as they say, the announced testing of coronavirus vaccines.

The protest followed news agency Reuters reporting on Saturday that Serbia, along with Pakistan and two other countries, had agreed to participate in testing a coronavirus vaccine produced by the Chinese company CNBG.

However, Health Minister Zlatibor Lončar denied this, stating that the conditions for such testing to be conducted in the country had not been met, and that officials would be the ones to address the public if something like that were to happen.

The protest is led by Dr. Jovana Stojković, who told the gathered crowd that the Minister of Education announced that parents would have their children taken away if they did not vaccinate them, which is why the attendees are carrying banners saying "We won't give you our children".

Stojković links vaccines to billionaire Bill Gates and claims there is no evidence that vaccines are safe and that they can cause serious adverse reactions, N1 reports.

She advocates for parents' right to choose what is best for their children. The gathered crowd is also against the announcement that children who have coronavirus symptoms while at school will be tested without parental consent.

Several members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are present around the "Batut" building; the protest is proceeding peacefully, and few participants are wearing protective masks.