Varsity students react to compulsory COVID jab

The government’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination order has elicited a checkered response from students studying at different higher learning institutions including the University of Juba.

Over the weekend, the government ordered for mandatory use of the COVID-19 vaccination certificates to access public facilities across the country including universities and ministries as the infection rate soars.

According to the directive, no student shall be allowed to enter the school premises without a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate. It also bars non-vaccinated persons from accessing all the government institutions.

“If that is the case, we have no option rather than to take the jab,” said Susan Joseph, a first-year student at the University of Juba.

“But the government was not supposed to impose [the vaccine] because it is a matter of one’s own health decision.”

She questioned the lifespan and the capacity of the country to store the vaccine at a rightful condition given the country’s temperature which ranges from 85 to 98 Fahrenheit, about 37 Degree Celsius.

“I heard that the vaccine needs very low temperature and our temperature is very high and these some of the things that makes people hesitant to get the vaccine,” Susan said.

No option

Gai Lino, a fourth-year student of Computer Science said myths surrounding the COVID-19 and the vaccine were too scary but said for the sake of studies he will take the jab.

“There are a lot of issues such as those who take the vaccine will die after two years; they will not produce especially men, and that you will be susceptible to any disease because the vaccine makes body’s immune system very weak,”

“I think we can take it because of studies. We want knowledge and everywhere in the world it is becoming compulsory,” said Lino.

However, a student of Applied Science who spoke on condition of anonymity said nothing would compel him to take the vaccine.

“I have heard a lot about this virus and the vaccine as well. The question is why people in Europe are demonstrating. So, it is a matter of one’s decision and their health. No one should force another to go for the vaccine.”

He added that “I know education is very important, but I can decide to quit because I don’t want to take something [which] I don’t know what it does to my body.” the student said.

Despite the recent increase in the infection rate, only less than one per cent of the country’s population has got the jab.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Health recorded 555 new cases in a week, raising the cumulative COVID-19 infection in the country to over 30,000 now and 133 deaths since 2019. 

There has been hesitation among many South Sudanese to get their full doses even though the country continues to receive more doses from COVAX through the support of the United States.

In past days, the ministry of health received thousands of single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines as well as AstraZeneca.

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