Refusal to get vaccinated may attract penalties, FG hints
By Modupe Shodeinde
The Presidential Steering Committee, PSC, has said Nigerians, who refuse to take the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to all, won’t be allowed to put others at risk.
Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, said basic rule of laws would be applied to individuals who refuse to get vaccinated, thereby endangering others.
Shuaib who spoke on vaccine hesitancy in Abuja, yesterday, said “The Presidential Steering Committee and the Federal Ministry of Health are exploring ways of making vaccines more available to all Nigerians, including Federal civil servants and corporate entities. Once these vaccines are made equitably available to all Nigerians, then we would need to have a frank discussion about justice, fairness and liberty that exist around vaccine hesitancy.
“If some individuals refuse to take the vaccine, hence endangering those who have or those who could not due to medical exemptions, then we have to apply the basic rule of law, which stipulates that your human right stops where mine begins. So, you have a right to refuse vaccines, but you do not have the right to endanger the health of others.”
Shuaib, who also reiterated that the vaccines being administered in the country were safe and efficient, added: “Let me once again, assure Nigerians that the Federal Government is very alert on the safety and efficacy of the various range of vaccines we are using in the country, and that is why we are not compromising on any component of our vaccine logistics at Federal and state levels.
“I once again appeal to all our health workers to remain steadfast in discharging their professional responsibility to Nigerians. The Federal government is working hard and supporting the states in ensuring that Nigerians are protected against COVID-19.”
‘’This is a collective fight in which we all have responsibility as Nigerians to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our community.”
