Vera Sidika recalls refusing COVID vaccine while pregnant and missing international travels
By Katemarthason Okudo, September 9, 2026Kenyan social media influencer and reality TV star Vera Sidika has shared her views on COVID-19 vaccines, saying she chose not to receive the jab despite the restrictions she faced during the pandemic.
In a post shared on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Vera said she remained uncomfortable with the idea of getting vaccinated and was grateful that she made the decision not to do so.
“Hope none of y’all got the COVID vaccine. A lot is coming out now in relation to the vaccine, and honestly, I’m just grateful I refused to get it,” she wrote.
Vera also recalled being advised to get vaccinated while pregnant, saying she was repeatedly told vaccination was more important for pregnant women.
Vera recalls travel restrictions
The businesswoman said her decision also affected her ability to travel internationally during the pandemic.
At the time, several countries introduced COVID-19 vaccination or other health requirements for travellers, making international movement more difficult for people who did not meet the entry conditions.
Vera said she could not travel to countries such as the United States because she did not have the required vaccination status.
“I literally couldn’t travel internationally because I needed a COVID vaccination to enter places like the USA, etc. I said NEVER! I’d rather wait until all this was over and travel freely,” she said.
She added that people had different theories about why she was not travelling during 2020 and 2021, while she said the reason was simply her decision to avoid something she was not comfortable with.
What is the concern about COVID-19 vaccines?
Vera’s comments come as discussions about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines continue several years after the height of the pandemic.
Health authorities acknowledge that some rare side effects have been linked to certain COVID-19 vaccines. These include myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis, inflammation of the lining around the heart. The cases have been reported most often among adolescent and young adult males following some mRNA vaccines.
However, this does not mean that vaccination is known to cause widespread sudden cardiac death.
Should vaccinated people undergo cardiac screening?
The renewed discussion has also raised questions about whether people who received COVID-19 vaccines should undergo routine heart screening.
Current guidance does not recommend blanket cardiac screening for everyone simply because they received a COVID-19 vaccine. Instead, people who develop symptoms such as persistent chest pain, shortness of breath or unusual heart palpitations after vaccination should seek medical attention. Where myocarditis or pericarditis is suspected, clinicians may use tests such as an ECG and blood tests to assess the heart.
Vera, meanwhile, said her decision was based largely on caution, describing herself as someone who becomes particularly careful when it comes to health decisions. “Aki, I’m the biggest coward when it comes to these things, but sometimes being overly cautious saves you from a lot,” she added.