By OLIVER SAMBOKO
DONT force citizens to take Covid-19 vaccine but instead provide correct information that will allow them to make informed decision, former Health Minister Jonas Chanda has advised government.
Dr Chanda said he agrees and supports the stance taken by public service unions to oppose forced vaccination of civil servants.
He observed that forcing people to carry vaccination cards will also lead to the black market to take advantage of the situation and start issuing fake Covid vaccine certificates as was the case during the outbreak of yellow fever.
Dr Chanda said Government should instead take a pull approach as opposed to a push approach because that will lead to suspicion and resistance from the citizens.
“Government should know that when they push people to take the vaccine, the citizens are going to resist, and this will have negative repercussion on the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Dr Chanda said while it’s appreciated that Government is in a hurry to vaccinate at least 30 percent eligible population by December, 31, forcing citizens is not the best way to go about it.
“Government should instead create demand among the people rather than taking a top to bottom approach,” he said, adding that in countries like France and other European countries where they tried to do mandatory vaccination, it resulted in street protests and riots.
Dr Chanda said even in the United States, the issue of mandatory vaccination has brought a lot of debate among citizens with some states refusing to carry out the programme.
He said when the Covid vaccination was approved by Cabinet early this year, the consensus was that taking the vaccine by citizens was voluntary and based on human rights approach.
Dr Chanda said the duty of Government through the Ministry of Health should be to sensitise the people by providing correct information, this way, he emphasised, is the best way to fight the pandemic.
“The onus is on the government through the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to provide correct information so that the citizens can make informed decisions,” he said.
