Solomon Islands not alone in enforcing the mandatory administration of Covid-19 vaccine
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has defended his governments decision to enforce the mandatory administration of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Speaking during his weekly nationwide address the Prime Minister says that the country is faced with an imminent threat, and his government is taking decisive steps to address this threat.
“We face one of the most dangerous variants of COVID-19 that has killed more than 4.29 million people globally. We only need to look and learn from our neighbouring countries such as Australia, PNG, and Fiji to see that devastation this virus can do to a country.
“COVID-19 does not care about our individual beliefs or our freedoms nor our individual rights. In-fact in many countries it is the individual rights and freedoms that has allowed COVID-19 to spread and kill many people,” Sogavare said.
He says that it is not the intention of Cabinet to take away people’s individual rights, but it is duty bound to act and protect the whole population of the country against this deadly virus. Sogavare reiterates that the government respects individuals’ rights, freedom and religious beliefs, but it must not jeopardize the rights of others, nor put them at unnecessary risk.
“COVID-19 does not discriminate – it affects all and if you are not vaccinated, you will become the weak link that can provide an entry point for the virus to enter and infect those close to you.”
Mr. Sogavare explained that the government policy starts with those that it employs through its two tiers of government – the central and provincial governments and those employed in government institutions and State-owned enterprises.
“It is the government’s policy that everyone that it employs, and members of their families must be protected from COVID-19. The best way to achieve this is to get fully vaccinated.”
The threat of Covid-19, and particularly the threat posed by the Delta variant of the virus is now considered so serious that two of Solomon Islands close neighbours have decided to make vaccines mandatory.
In Australia, vaccines are to be made mandadory for thousands of Australians and jabs to be opened up to under 40s as the Australian Government escalates the nation’s rollout in the midst of daily, fresh Delta outbreaks.
The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has said the mandatory vaccines would apply to ayone who worked, either directly or indirectly, in hotel quarantine, including drivers.
Mr. Morrison has also said vaccination of aged care workers and everyone in the hotel quarantine system is to be made mandatory under a move endorsed by the national cabinet.
Vaccination of aged care workers and everyone in the hotel quarantine system is to be made mandatory under a move endorsed by the national cabinet, Scott Morrison has announced.
Tonga is set to introduce compulsory inoculation against Covid-19.
A Bill to amend the Public Health Act to enforce inoculation of the Public against Covid-19, was among seven Bills that government tabled into parliament this week.
The new amendment bill states that it will be a crime for anybody to refuse to be vaccinated against the virus.
Parents will also be held responsible if their children refuse to be inoculated.
Matangi Tonga online says after the first reading of the amendment Bill in Legislature it was carried with 17-0 votes.
It will be submitted to the Standing Committee on Social Services for deliberation, before it is resubmitted to parliament for its final reading.
Meanwhile, Fiji's Health Minister says vaccination against Covid-19 is helping to prevent deaths.
For the past two weeks in Fiji around a thousand new Covid cases were reported each day, as the official death toll closes in on 300.
The government continues to opt against a lockdown to focus instead on vaccination.
In an appearance on local tv, the minister, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said that 84 percent of the people who have died from Covid in Fiji were not vaccinated, while 16 percent had received the first of the two required does of the vaccine.
He said that no one fully vaccinated against the virus had died in Fiji.
Health ministry figures indicate 85 percent of Fiji's eligible population has received at least a first dose of the vaccine, and almost 30 percent have had two doses.
Sources. Solomon Times Online and Radio New Zealand
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
