We’ll apply basic law on nigerians rejecting CoViD-19 vaccine – FG

By Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja

The federal government disclosed on Tuesday that it would soon commence the application of basic rule of law on Nigerians refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib who made this disclosure on Tuesday said, this has become necessary hence such individuals endanger those who have or could not take the vaccine due to medical exemptions.

Dr Shuaib spoke during the agency’s weekly update of the COVID-19 vaccination in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said, “The Presidential Steering Committee and the Federal Ministry of Health is 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”.

Dr Shaiub who further disclosed that the vaccination against COVID-19 is now mandatory for all pilgrims to the holy cities of Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem urged adherents of both religions planning to perform pilgrimage next year and in future

“At this juncture, I would like to remind all Nigerians that evidence of vaccination against COVID-19 is now mandatory for all pilgrims to the holy cities of Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem.

“I therefore urge adherents of both religions who are planning to perform pilgrimage next year or in the future, to get vaccinated now to avoid any delays.

This is also to bring to our attention that as the COVID-19 vaccines become available worldwide, some countries have made vaccination a requirement to gain access to their country”, he added.

The NPHCDA boss who cautioned Nigerians against misinformation that could negatively affect the health of citizens added that such falsehoods elevates and adds fuel to a raging flame that benefits only the perpetrator.

On the viral text message which purported that the United States Supreme court ordered the cancellation of the universal vaccination, Dr Shaiub debunked the report in its entirety saying, there is no record of such a case.

“We are constrained by the volume of specific enquiries about a viral text message which purports that the US Supreme Court has cancelled universal vaccination.

“Let’s set the record straight and once again punch holes in the malicious intentions of anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists: The US Supreme Court has not “overturned universal vaccination” there is no record of such a case, and there is no such thing as “universal vaccination” in the US. So this is another case of “Fake News”.

While encouraging state governors to continue to provide leadership in the mobilization of citizens to prioritize the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine, Dr Shuiab commended the governor of Edo State Godwin Obaseki for mobilising churches and religious leaders towards mass acceptance of the vaccine.

He urged other state governors to emulate the gesture to ensure that all Nigerians are protected from contracting the virus.

Dr Shiaub added that the agency will continue to work closely with all states to optimize logistics for the full take off of the phase 2 vaccination exercise in order to ensure maximum utilization of available vaccines in Nigeria.