Vaccine mandates here to stay, says Abdool Karim

FOLLOWING the University of Cape Town (UCT) decision to pause the implementation of its compulsory vaccination policy and further easing of restrictions, questions have been raised if more companies will reconsider their vaccination mandates.

UCT had already developed a draft vaccine mandate policy through consultation. Recently, President Cyril Ramophosa relaxed more Covid-19 restrictions allowing spectators at sporting events and masks not being required outdoors.

He is also expected to announce the lifting of the state of disaster but add a new regulation under the Health Act giving the government the legal capability of requiring masks.

Speaking to the Weekend Argus, South African public health medicine specialist, epidemiologist and infectious diseases specialist Professor Salim Abdool Karim said he did not believe that companies will drop vaccination mandates as restrictions are eased.

“The reason that we can ease restrictions is because of vaccinations. We know that this virus mutates and when it mutates it creates new variants. We do not know how many more variants we are going to see.”

The next variant will be called Pi and is expected to spread faster.

So far 43.5% of adults in the country have been fully vaccinated. The government has had to dispose thousands of vaccines due to low vaccine uptake and expiring vaccines.

The professor said there has to be other creative ways to encourage people take the jab.

“Many countries have tried different strategies, making vaccines a requirement to enter indoors and for job applications. In New York, they were giving people $100 for getting vaccinated. I am not sure we need that or that works well.”

Deputy President David Mabuza said poor demand for and uptake of vaccination remained the largest barrier to increasing vaccination coverage.

“However, we are encouraged by efforts of a number of sectors of society that have implemented policies and programmes, aimed at increasing demand for and access to vaccination.”

But Abdool Karim said South Africa does not have a vaccine mandate yet.

“All we have is individual organisations trying to implement vaccination. The problem is the government is sending confusing messages about whether it wants mandatory vaccination or not. ”

SHARON SERETLO PROFESSOR Salim Abdool Karim says he does not believe companies will rethink their vaccine mandates. |