By Mohamed Foday Conteh
The National Corona Virus Response Centre (NaCOVERC) will make taking the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory starting tomorrow for all those accessing public facilities, schools, higher educational institutions, sport venues, and hospitality and entertainment spots.
NaCOVERC made this announcement on Monday 25th October this year.
“This notice applies to on-going festivals, trade fare, exhibitions, entertainment shows, carnivals and related events all over the country,” it notice reads.
Authorities say that the notice was to reinforce the 13th September directives issued to the public in order to curtail the spread of the virus.
The Risk Communication Lead at NaCOVERC, Harold Thomas explained to Politico that the new measures are meant to prevent a fourth wave that is on a surge in other parts of the world.
“A threat anywhere is a threat everywhere,” Thomas stated`. He added that all adults in Sierra Leone are eligible to take the vaccine. He said this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated.
He spoke about the importance of maintaining the low number of cases the country has been recording for weeks now.
He then recalled how the second wave started after the festive season in January this year and the third wave immediately after Easter this year.
Thomas said that they are conscious that the new measures will affect football and businesses in particular being aware that sporting events in Sierra Leone depend on spectators for revenue but that as an institution they are looking at saving lives of Sierra Leoneans. “There should be a firm balance between saving lives and protecting livelihoods as well,” Thomas said.
He warned if unvaccinated people are allowed to mingle, it will result in a super spreader event and subsequently a fourth wave. There are some members of the public that are apprehensive towards taking the vaccine.
Local businessman, Salieu Mohamed Bangura, thinks the new measure is wrong. “This is a violation of people’s right,” he said. He believed people should be willing to take the vaccine and not to be forced indirectly. He said there are some people who will never take the vaccine. “It is better they engage the public and review it,” he stated.
Kadiatu Sesay, a public servant, is among 500,000 people that have taken the vaccine. She said although she suffered minor complications, she is well and fine now. She said taking the vaccine is not a bad choice although she felt compelled to take it.
According to NaCOVERC, 500,000 first doses have been administered so far. Only 100,000 people have taken their second dose.
CoronaVirus authorities are saying that Sierra Leone is way below the threshold put forward by the African Union with regards COVID-19 vaccination. They say the country has stocks of Sinopharm, Pfizer BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccines.
Copyright © Politico Online 27/10/21
