By Lawrence Williams
Health authorities in Sierra Leone say they have detected the Indian variant of coronavirus in two females tested positive of Covid-19.
Spokesperson of the National Covid-19 Emergency Response Centre (NaCOVERC) Solomon Jamiru Esq. told journalists past Thursday that the epidemiological data shows an exponential rise in cases and increased hospitalisation.
“We have recorded over 900 cases from May 25 to June 23,” he said, adding that this trend is expected to take an upward trajectory before it would eventually begin to slow down and take a downward slope.
The country has so far recorded over 5,500 laboratory-confirmed positive cases since the start of the pandemic, and case fatality has reached 100 as of yesterday June 30.
Forced Vaccination
NaCOVERC issued a public notice on June 17 indicating stringent measures to curb the third wave of the pandemic. The measures include a ban on large-scale entertainment activities and mandatory vaccination for people who wish to access public buildings/offices.
This action has received strong reactions from the public including human rights activists and lawyers who consider it a violation of the people’s right to freedom of movement and their right to make informed decisions regarding vaccination.
An organisation named Legal Link argues that there is no evidence in law to support mandatory vaccinations nor any precedent exists in the UK or elsewhere to warrant such action by the government. The organisation says forcing Covid-19 vaccines on people against their wish or consent is unreasonable and unjustifiable.
Human rights lawyer and activist Agustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah tweeted that forced vaccination does not enhance the fight against Covid-19, adding that NaCOVERC is not a law-making body.
A well-known scientist named Alhaji U. Njai says for a trial vaccine like Covid, vaccine safety and efficacy must be established beyond all reasonable doubt and against all the different variants of the virus for mandatory vaccination to be made feasible.
Popular journalist and editor of Ticha Lemp-Lemp newspaper in Freetown, Christian Conteh, advised the government to instead employ a risk communication strategy to encourage voluntary vaccination.
The NaCOVERC spokesman says people should not be reluctant to take the vaccine though scientists the world over are in a quandary about the efficacy of the vaccine.
Death of a midwife
Vaccine hesitancy among the populace reached its peak following the death of a healthcare worker who died barely 48 hours after taking a dose of the jab, but the country’s health ministry says her death is not related to the jab. However, they promised to investigate the incident.
We observe that most government institutions are now implementing NaCOVERC’s vaccination policy. This makes it difficult to ascertain the involuntariness among public sector workers who go in for the jab.
A recent notice issued by the Teaching Service Commission indicates all teachers must take the jab as a matter of priority, voluntarily or otherwise.
The spike in new infections has raised serious concerns about whether a lockdown may be imposed. Responding to this, NaCOVERC spokesman Solomon Jamiru said they have not announced a lockdown at this stage but the government could impose additional stringent measures if the situation persists.
