Kaya 959 Reporter
On Sunday night, Ramaphosa gave the firmest indication that he is in favour of mandatory vaccination.
He will now appoint a task team to advise Cabinet on the way forward.
There are still over 20 million adults who have not received even one shot, and we are inoculating just about 120 000 people per day.
Only 36% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.
According to Health Minister Joe Phaahla, the health department will issue vaccine certificates or passports to fully vaccinated people by the end of September, which businesses will be able to use to restrict access to venues based on people’s vaccination status.
Also Read: Mandatory vaccines: President Ramaphosa sets up task team
Can we be forced to vaccinate according to the law?
“It goes without saying that even this decision, if it is to be effected, will meet a lot of challenges and resistance. Ultimately this will go into the courts.”
“The only problem that we are going to be faced with, is that this issue of the pandemic has gone beyond beliefs, means and conspiracy theories. It has become a reality.”
“The burden of proof for who ever is against the mandatory vaccination has to prove in a scientific format that 1. These vaccinations are a waste of time. 2. Has got horrible side-effects, and 3. The it is bring more harm.”
“The whole debate boils down to individual rights vs collective rights.”
Hesitancy Rate in South Africa
Hesitancy may be a significant barrier to the success of South Africa’s vaccine programme — a survey by the Human Sciences Research Council in June and July this year showed that 28% of the 8 000 respondents were reluctant to be vaccinated.
Though public sentiment towards mandatory vaccination is low, the have been proven instances where countries imposed it successfully.
If South Africa considers mandatory vaccinations for its citizens, we won’t be the first country to do so. Austria became the first European nation to announce mandatory vaccinations for all its citizens from next year on the 1st of February.
