Vaccine Mandate: Government urges workers to get vaccinated, save jobs by Dec 1 deadline

*In spite of the criticisms trailing the directive, the Federal Government insists its decision on COVID-19 Vaccine mandate for workers to get vaccinated by December 1, 2021, is in the best interest of Nigerians

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

As the December 1, 2021 deadline for the COVID-19 Vaccine mandate for Civil Servants draws near, the Federal Government, again, has warned Federal workers to get vaccinated and save their jobs in Nigeria.

ConsumerConnect gathered in spite of the flurry of criticisms the directive has attracted in the economy since September this year, when the authorities first hinted at it, the Federal Government Monday, November 22, 2021, however, insisted that its decision is in the best interest of Nigerian consumers.

Earlier, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, had announced that effective December 1, unvaccinated Federal workers would not be granted access into any public offices as part of measures to contain the spread of the pandemic in the West African country.

While lending credence to the vaccine mandate for workers, and speaking during the COVID-19 vaccination update Monday, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Honourable Minister for Health, also observed that the COVID-19 Vaccine mandate has become a global phenomenon.

The Minister noted that Nigeria also could not afford to be left behind in the fight against the pandemic, The Guardian report said.

Dr. Ehanire stated: “There’s a deadline already set, and we are hoping that it will encourage those Civil Servants who love their jobs and are yet to take the COVID-19 vaccine to take the jabs for their own good.

“The reason is that there’s evidence that supports the fact that if you are fully vaccinated, the effect of COVID-19 won’t be much on you.

The Minister for Health further noted: “But that is not the same with unvaccinated people.

“There are higher chances of survival, if a fully vaccinated person comes down with COVID-19.

“However, those who have not taken the vaccine are a threat to the safety of other people who have been fully vaccinated and possibly share same public places with them by virtue of being colleagues. There’s a higher risk of them infecting other people, and that’s what we want to avoid.”

He said: “In addition to that, we want to secure the health of others who share the same public spaces.

“Evidently, most countries now insist on presenting evidence of full vaccination before someone is being allowed into public places.”

Ehanire also affirmed the availability of adequate COVID-19 Vaccines and advised unvaccinated individuals to take advantage of this provision and get immunised against the damaging Coronavirus.

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