Vaccines should become mandatory in some sectors: Professor Salim Abdool Karrim.

Article by: Dumisane Dube

Epidemiologist, Professor Salim Abdool Karrim, says vaccines should become mandatory in some sectors, such as healthcare.

Karim says those in the industry who choose not to vaccinate should be required to provide a weekly negative COVID-19 test.

He says the government shouldn’t make it a blanket mandate.

“There is a case for society’s benefit that people should take the vaccine. I don’t think that the government should simply make it a blanket mandate. But I think that mandatory vaccines should be implemented in certain sectors. The clearest example for me is healthcare and for those who choose not to be vaccinated, there is an alternative – they ensure that they provide a negative test result on a weekly basis,” said Karim

Meanwhile, the Department of Health says although getting the vaccine against COVID-19 is still a personal option, those who choose not to take the vaccine, could be left out of important events.

On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that government was looking at introducing a vaccine passport system, which could be used as evidence of vaccination.

However, the Labour Department also warned of several court cases as some companies plan to introduce mandatory vaccination policies.

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