Covid-19: FG Plans Stiff Penalties For Those Who Refuse Vaccines

FEDERAL Government has announced its intention of taking stiff measures against people who refuse to receive the COVID-19 vaccines being administered at various health centres across the country.

Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, said the Federal Government may “apply the basic rule of law” against  people who refuse to be inoculated, noting that it amounts to endangering the lives of other citizens.

Shuaib also stated that the Government was making efforts in ensuring that the vaccines were more accessible to all Nigerians.

He said “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.

“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.”