South Sudan National Taskforce refused to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to states, proposed mandatory Covid vaccination for public, private-sector workers

The South Sudan National Taskforce on Covid-19 refused to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to states, proposed mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for the public, private-sector workers. For months, the vaccine is only in 3 centers in Juba: Juba Teaching Hospital, Juba Military Hospital, and Police Hospital. Just recently that more centers are now accessible to every South Sudanese.

In a publication by Eye Radio, the National Taskforce on Coronavirus recommended to the President that all government officials be compelled to take the AstraZeneca vaccine.

According to the head of the task force, the public, including constitutional post-holders, is reluctant to take the jabs that arrived in the country over 2 months ago.

VP Abdelbaggi Akol further broached in his proposal that South Sudanese will not allow them to enter government offices [or] work at the hotels without the certificate of vaccination.

Has the vaccines gone to the states and administrative areas? The National Taskforce is yet to take the vaccines to the states. The Taskforce must have been waiting for funding from the donors to support vaccine transportation and training of health workers at the state level.

Is it not the logistics and how the vaccines will reach all South Sudanese that should be the plan of the National Taskforce rather than using force to get people vaccinated.

The National Taskforce refused to collaborate with NGOs and organizations that are willing to assist in the distribution of the vaccines to the states. The National Taskforce needs to exploit all options available to get the vaccines to the nooks and crannies of South Sudan without compulsion.

The National Taskforce also needs to address the skepticism of the people. According to the Africa Centre for Disease Control, the scientific and medical evidence shows that vaccination can help protect against COVID-19. The studies are also showing that vaccinated people may have less severe illness if they do become ill from COVID-19.

Here is the list of the new announced by the Ministry of Health for Covax vaccination (all in Juba): Malakia Public Healthcare Center, Kator Public Healthcare Center, Nyakuron Public Healthcare Center, Hai Jebel Public Healthcare Center, Gurei Public Healthcare Center, Kimu Public Healthcare Center, Munuki Public Healthcare Center.

Hopefully, the taskforce will work out logistics on how the vaccines will reach the states and the administrative areas.