THE world can’t wait to go back to the old normal. Europe is already filling up football stadiums. On the other hand, the United States is still battling the Delta variant, so is Australia.
South Africa is easing up on restrictions, Zambia seems to be out of the woods at the moment.
But clearly as a global village, we are far from declaring earth Covid-19 free. How far that may take no one really can tell. Much of the hope lies in a global herd immunity which effective vaccination is the determinant factor.
Yet as we all know, the Covid vaccines have not been well received. Too much doubt and misinformation, infodemics with conspiracy theories have convinced many otherwise.
Indeed, it will be very difficult to get over 80 percent of the world population to be innoculated for global herd immunity to be attained. We are so divided, majority don’t see eye to eye.
To try and gain back normalcy, some countries have taken a strong stance on vaccination. Some had, have or will soon make vaccination mandatory.
Of course even in these countries, not everyone seems to favour this idea leading to a lot of protests especially from the Antivax movement .
These are some of the countries which in part, in the past, or in the future considered mandatory accination. (Courtesy of Reuters).
AUSTRALIA
Australia decided in late in June to make vaccinations mandatory for high-risk aged-care workers and employees in quarantine hotels.
In Tasmania, an Island state of Australia, vaccines will be mandatory for aged care workers as of September 17, The Examiner reported on August 14.
BRITAIN
It will be mandatory for care home workers in England to have vaccinations from October.
English nightclubs and other venues with large crowds will require patrons to present proof of full vaccination from the end of September.
CANADA
Canada said on August 13 it will soon require all federal public servants and many other workers to be vaccinated against Covid-19. The vaccine mandate will also include air, train and cruise ship travellers.
British Columbia is mandating Covid-19 vaccines for all staff working in long-term care homes and assisted living facilities, officials announced on August 12, becoming one of the first Canadian provinces to do so.
FIJI
As of August 15 unvaccinated public servants in Fiji would be forced to go on leave. The public servants who will remain unvaccinated by November will be dismissed.
FRANCE
The French parliament on August 2 approved a bill that will make vaccinations mandatory for health workers as well as require a bolstered health pass in many social venues.
GREECE
Greece on July 12 made vaccinations mandatory for nursing home staff with immediate effect and healthcare workers from September. As part of new measures, only vaccinated customers are allowed in bars, cinemas, theatres and other closed spaces.
INDONESIA
Indonesia made inoculations mandatory in February, threatening fines of up to five million rupiah (US$357).
ITALY
A decree approved by the Italian government in March mandates that health workers, get vaccinated. Those who refuse could be suspended without pay for the rest of the year.
HUNGARY
Hungary’s government has decided to make vaccinations mandatory for healthcare workers.
KAZAKHSTAN
Kazakhstan will introduce mandatory vaccinations or weekly testing for people working in groups of more than 20.
LEBANON
Lebanon is to limit entry to restaurants, cafes, pubs and beaches to people holding vaccine certificates or those who have taken antibody tests.
Non-vaccinated employees of these establishments would be required to receive a PCR test (Covid test) every 72 hours.
MALTA
Malta banned visitors from entering the country from July 14 unless they were fully vaccinated.
MICRONESIA
The small South Pacific island nation of The Federated States of Micronesia has mandated that its adult population be inoculated against Covid-19. The Pacific island nation said on July 29 everyone over 18 years will have to receive a Covid-19 vaccine.
POLAND
Poland made vaccinations obligatory for some people at high risk from Covid-19 from August.
RUSSIA
Moscow city authorities on June 16 had ordered all workers with public facing roles to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Companies were given a month to ensure at least 60 percent of staff had received first doses, or face fines or temporary closure.
SAUDI ARABIA
In May, Saudi Arabia mandated that all public and private sector workers wishing to attend a workplace get vaccinated, without specifying when this would be implemented.
Vaccination will also be required to enter any government, private, or education establishments and to use public transport, this is as of August 1.
SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka announced on August 13 that citizens would require vaccination cards to travel between provinces and in public spaces as of September 15, according to Business Standard.
TURKMENISTAN
Turkmenistan is making vaccination mandatory for all residents aged 18 and over.
USA MIGHT HEAD THE SAME DIRECTION
(CNN) REPROTS: President Joe Biden on Thursday (September 9) imposed stringent new vaccine rules on federal workers, large employers and health care staff in a sweeping attempt to contain the latest surge of Covid-19.
The new requirements could apply to as many as 100 million Americans – close to two-thirds of the American workforce – and amount to Biden’s strongest push yet to require vaccines for much of the country.
“We’ve been patient, but our patience is wearing thin, and your refusal has cost all of us,” Biden said, his tone hardening toward Americans who still refuse to receive a vaccine despite ample evidence of their safety and full approval of one – the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine – from the US Food and Drug Administration.
He said vaccinated America was growing “frustrated” with the 80 million people who have not received shots and are fueling the spread of the virus. And he acknowledged the new steps would not provide a quick fix.CNN
This decision has been received with opposition especially from Republicans, with some demanding for Dr Fauci to be fired. Some think he is linked to infamous “gain of function research” that allegedly was going on at Wuhan Virology lab (China) and thought to have led to the accidental leak that led to this pandemic. Allegations Dr Fauci strongly denies. But this allegation plays well for those opposing vaccination.
ADAPTING TO THE CHANGING WORLD
International travel might soon require travellers to show proof of vaccination against Covid-19. I guess sooner or later all of us will be faced with the decision of getting a Covid-19 jab or not.
If it happens that vaccines become mandatory, it won’t be the first time. Most countries won’t allow entry if you have no proof of vaccination against certain diseases especially if coming from certain regions.
For instance most countries require certificate of vaccination against yellow fever, measles, hepatitis, polio just to mention a few before entry.
Clearly, the world is changing and we must adapt to the changes or risk being locked out of the moving time. Please kindly take time to educate yourself on the different vaccines so you can make an informed decision when that time comes.
Finally, Zambia’s rainy season is near and with it there is a very high likelihood of the 4th wave. Please let us stay vigilant, Covid is not over yet. Please continue to mask up, sanitise and socialise wisely.
ONE ZAMBIA, ONE NATION. UTIL THEN, ALUTA CONTINUA.
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