Mandatory jab debate rages on

IT’S a debate that has raged on for months: Should Covid-19 vaccines be mandatory in South Africa?

With the government exploring the possibility of mandatory vaccines and certificates (passports) for everyone in the country, Independent Media chatted to several South Africans to find out where they stand on the issue.

Rushil Vallabh of Johannesburg: “The more people who are vaccinated, the better it is for getting the world/ country on the path to normality, without further lockdowns and restrictions.

“Whether the government should make it mandatory is debatable. On the one hand, people should be able to decide what they want to do with their own bodies. On the other hand, the anti-vax movement does pose a risk to society in general.

“The vaccine passport shouldn’t at all be controversial. I’ve travelled with my yellow fever passport for years, and no one questioned it. The vaccine passport is a good idea. It allows people to make informed decisions on how to engage with others. ”

Brett Rogers from Cape Town: “This is an extremely tricky question, and I don’t think there is a correct answer. Mandatory ‘anything’ that puts limits on our ability to ‘be’ is a dangerous slope towards fascism, and I don’t trust our leaders to use this mandate honestly.

“However, I think that it makes sense to insist that for a time, at least, we put measures in place to ensure the safety and security of all. Right now, the anti-vax movement is a f ***** g insane collection of ‘Whatsapp aunties and uncles’ who have read some nonsense from their friend at the salon or something.

“The statistics don’t lie, vaccines help, and it’s our duty to each other to be vaccinated. I’m concerned about the vaccine, but to ignore the need for us all to cross this global hurdle means we need to collectively make smart decisions.

“Yes, we need to have a vaccine passport, but it needs to have stringent time-lines and guidelines as to when it ends.

“Like what some places/clubs have done: show us your vaccine proof or pay for a test right now, and then you can enter. I think at a micro level that’s the right thing, but on a countrywide scale, the passport is necessary.”

Bushra Hassim from Pretoria: “Everyone should have a choice of whether they take the vaccine or not. There are plenty of people who use alternate healing and live a lifestyle that doesn’t make use of vaccinations.

“They have treatment and believe in self-immunisation.

“Imposing a vaccine on people is taking away the freedom of choice and imposing a lifestyle that may be contradictory to some.

“It’s noted that the vaccine stops the variant, but at the same time, this isn’t just a virus problem. It’s a lifestyle problem.

“The more people work on their health and well-being, the stronger they will be to overcome viruses. Imposing a vaccine on people who have dedicated years to alternate health and lifestyles is not in line with human rights.”

Rob Hutchinson, Cape Town: “Mandatory vaccines and certificates (passports) are a horrific idea for several reasons.

“Around 9.8 million South Africans are currently considered fully vaccinated, figures are far too low to consider segregation and discriminating against the unvaccinated.

“The definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ is wholly unclear as an individual’s vaccination status expires over time. Fully vaccinated today does not mean fully vaccinated six months from now.

“Currently, fully vaccinated means two doses administered within 14 days. However, as we’ve witnessed in other countries, fully vaccinated means two shots plus a booster every 3/6/12 months.

“In other words, the certificate is irrelevant as the individual’s status expires when the vax is no longer deemed effective.

“Our government has thus far struggled to roll out vaccines to only 15% of the population over the past year, and many of those early adopters are no longer considered fully vaccinated. I’m afraid our government will never be able to maintain a fully vaccinated status for any individual, as the goalposts continually shift.”

Kuli Roberts of Johannesburg: “First, it was not mandatory. Now, they are on about a mandatory vaccine passport. It smells like the Nats and Hitler, and we hope this is God’s plan.

“Death is not a fear, but confusion is annoying. But if it’s to save lives, then let’s get on with it. I will put it near my yellow fever card. Death is inevitable.”

Cathryn Howroyd, also of Johannesburg: “I think it’s a good idea, and I am all for it. It will open up the country sooner and aid in medical facilities’ relief.”

A doctor who did not want to be named: “I think it’s an absolute invasion of rights and an imposition of the Nuremberg code.

“It completely frustrates me that we live in a country where we’re believed to think it’s democratic when actually our rights are being infringed.

“To be forced to put something into your healthy body, when the statistics of death are less than the yearly flu, and the statistics of adverse effects of this ‘vaccine’ are causing more deaths, is ridiculous. The world needs to catch a wake-up.“

Sarah M of Cape Town: “As a child adopted due to a mother who had polio, I am very pro-vax. I am in full support of mandatory vaccination.

“When I started school, I remember government clinics coming around, setting up a vaccination centre in the school hall where we all queued to get our booster shots.

“I’m not against people who are cautious or hesitant about getting the vaccine, but to be out here telling people to not get vaccinated and that the science isn’t what it is?

“Name every ingredient in your double brandy and Coke lite.

“Do you drink water? You know there’s fluoride in there, right? Do you want to know what fluoride is or does?

“Do your own research, and make sure you do the fluoride research while queuing to get vaccinated.”