Mandatory Vaccine Backlash, Public Sector Unions Say No to Compulsory Jab
- President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement that vaccines would be made mandatory under certain conditions has been met with resistance
- The Public Servants Association (PSA), the Southern African Policing Union (Sapu) and the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) are all opposing compulsory vaccinations
- The unions are encouraging members to voluntarily get vaccinated but said that people must be given the choice
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JOHANNESBURG - Despite Cosatu's support for mandatory vaccines public sector unions are digging their heels and are saying not to compulsory vaccinations.
The Public Servants Association (PSA), the Southern African Policing Union (Sapu) and the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) have all said that they will not cooperate with mandatory Covid 19 vaccines.
Source: UGC
On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed that following the discovery of the new Omicron variant of Covid 19, vaccines would be made compulsory for certain locations and activities.
PSA spokesperson Reuben Maleka has encouraged members to get vaccinated but said that the vaccines should remain voluntary according to News24.
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He warned that making the vaccine mandatory will make people anxious and some are still worried about possible side effects of the jab.
The New York Times has reported that South Africa has one of the better vaccination rates on the African continent.
25% of the population has been fully vaccinated in South Africa but the effectiveness of the vaccine against the new Omicron variant is unknown and it will take weeks to get results.
Where the vaccine mandate could apply in SA, government yet to announce
Earlier, Briefly News reported that Business for SA(B4SA) is a South African lobby group that has urged President Ramaphosa to make it compulsory for workplaces to allow access for vaccinated people only.
B4SA's suggestion follows the president's announcement on Sunday (28 Nov) night that vaccine mandates will soon be implemented at certain venues and for specific activities, following task team meetings.
According to Daily Maverick, the chair of B4SA, Martin Kingston, has said that while ventilation in transport and public spaces is necessary, the government needs to further protect its citizens from the spread of Covid-19.
No unvaccinated people at indoor events says Professor Abdool Karim
In similar news, yesterday Briefly News reported that during the Health Department's media conference yesterday (29 November), Professor Salim Abdool Karim stated that indoor events are too risky for unvaccinated people so it is not advised that they attend such gatherings.
His suggestion is based on scientific evidence that unvaccinated people are more likely to suffer severe symptoms of the new Omicron variant. Most South Africans who are currently in hospital with the new variant are unvaccinated.
His suggestion is based on scientific evidence that unvaccinated people are more likely to suffer severe symptoms of the new Omicron variant. Most South Africans who are currently in hospital with the new variant are unvaccinated.
Source: Briefly News
