Mandatory vaccination a human right violation - BONELA

Botswana Network on Ethic, Law and HIV/ AIDS ( BONELA) says making Covid- 19 vaccination mandatory, is a form of human right violation.

BONELA posits that while Government is working hard to ensure that vaccines are available for all, these vaccines should not be made mandatory in any situation, including in the workplace.

So far, frontline workers are getting Covid- 19 vaccinations as well as those aged 45 to 54.

Recently, Centres for disease Control and Prevention said Covid- 19 vaccines play a crucial role in protecting an individual from contracting and transmitting the corona virus. They also keep an individual from getting severe illness from Covid- 19 thus not requiring hospitalisation in case they do contract the virus. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention further notes that being vaccinated does not only protect an individual but protects those around them.

However, Programs Coordinator at BONELA, Katlego Sechele argues that vaccines should not necessarily be made mandatory in any situation, including in the workplace. “Making vaccines mandatory is an infringement on human rights, primarily the right to personal liberty and freedom from discrimination. Vaccine mandates, to a very large extent, violates the rights of people who object to be vaccinated for religious and medical reason,” said Sechele in an interview.

She adds that, furthermore, mandatory vaccination in the workplace has the potential to breed discrimination on people who opt not to be vaccinated.

Meanwhile Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Christopher Nyanga says their position is that people should voluntarily get vaccinated, and they are currently satisfied with the numbers of people turning up for vaccination. “No decision has been taken to force people to get vaccinated for Covid- 19 yet. What the Ministry is doing is, an aggressive public education and sensitization campaign for people to get vaccinated given the known benefits of vaccination,” Nyanga said.

However BONELA says Botswana government should make concerted efforts to educate the public about the scientific benefits of vaccination as, countries have legal duty to respect, protect, promote and fulfil human rights.

Meanwhile, Government will receive 101 760 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine this weekend. This will be the first batch of the expected 401 280 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine donated by the federal Republic of Germany to the Government of Botswana according to Nyanga.

He explains that the balance of 299 520 doses will be delivered in the country in the coming weeks, and this means the vaccination program will soon extend to the lower age groups.