Should African companies impose vaccine mandate amid Omicron variant?
Recently, MTN Group Limited released a statement informing stakeholder that it plans to implement compulsory COVID-19 vaccination for all its staff starting from January 2022.
“The science is clear. Vaccination against COVID-19 reduces rates of serious infections, hospitalisation, and death. As an employer, we have a responsibility to ensure that our workplaces are guided by the highest standards of health and safety, and that has informed our decision to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for our staff,” said Group CEO, Ralph Mupita, in the press statement that was seen by Business Insider Africa.
MTN Group is one of the largest companies in Africa, with thousands of employees across key markets including South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana, etc.
A vaccine mandate by a company as big as MTN definitely grabs attention and raises the question of whether other African companies should follow suit.
As you may well know, scientists in Southern Africa recently discovered the Omicron variant of the deadly Coronavirus. The discovery has heightened fears of a prolonged pandemic which would entail more infections and possibly deaths.
Already, the new variant is steadily spreading across Africa and beyond, even as many Western countries have imposed travel bans on many African countries.
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Unfortunately, Africa’s population is among the least-vaccinated in the world. And this is why concerted efforts are needed to get more people jabbed. In South Africa for instance, many business leaders and labour unions have expressed commitment to a vaccine mandate, describing it as a necessary step towards avoiding another lockdown and protecting jobs.
Bloomberg reported that the stakeholders have already submitted proposals on vaccine mandates to the country’s National Economic Development and Labour Council.
Indeed, it’s important at this point in time for more companies across Africa to consider vaccine mandate as an alternative to another wide lockdown. This is important because Africa does not need another lockdown in 2022.
If more people are able to get vaccinated, the higher the chances of overcoming the effects of the new variant. After all, both the World Health Organisation and vaccine maker Pfizer have assured that available vaccines can help curb severe effects of the Omicron variant.
However, it’s important to point out that very many Africans do not readily have access to COVID-19 vaccines. So, this will definitely pose a challenge for companies hoping to implement a vaccine mandate for their workers.
