Mandatory vaccination is one of a few resorts left to South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa said during his ‘family meeting’.
Mandatory vaccination on the cards
In his address, Ramaphosa officially confirmed the presence and rising spread of the Omicron variant. While scientists are working tirelessly to understand the scale of the threat posed by the new COVID-19 super variant, the president confirmed action must be taken now to avoid a catastrophic fourth wave.
A number of preventative measures are within the government’s control, he said, one of which is mandatory vaccination.
Ramaphosa confirmed after high-level meetings with the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), the Presidential Coordinating Council (PCC) and leading scientists, a decision was reached to form a task team mandated with finding policy loopholes to introduce mandatory vaccination in certain industries and locations.
“We have … been undertaking engagements with social partners and other stakeholders on introducing measures that make vaccination a condition for access to workplaces, public events, public transport and public establishments.
“Government has set up a task team that will undertake broad consultations on making vaccination mandatory for specific activities and locations,” Ramaphosa said.
The president also pleaded with South Africans to observe basic instructions like wearing face masks and avoid confined spaces that are not ventilated.
“We know enough about the variant to know what we need to do to reduce transmission and to protect ourselves against severe disease and death. The first, the most powerful, tool we have is vaccination.
“Since the first Covid-19 vaccines became available late last year, we have seen how vaccines have dramatically reduced severe illness, hospitalisation and death in South Africa and across the world. Vaccines do work. Vaccines are saving lives,” he added.
South Africa will remain on Alert Level 1 for the foreseeable future, while scientists observe infection and hospitalisation trends this week “to determine whether the existing measures are adequate or whether changes need to be made to the current regulations.”