Rwandan Prime Minister, Dr Edouard Ngirente has announced plans to introduce a mandatory vaccination certificate starting shortly, at times some people are still reluctant to take the COVID-19 vaccine, a statement obtained Monday by APA in Kigali said.
According to the top Rwandan Government official, people will be required to show proof of vaccination of at least two dose of COVID-19 vaccines when entering facilities where events such as concerts, seminars and sports activities are taking place
These vaccine-hesitant people will also be banned in different facilities nationwide, including coffee bars, hotels, restaurants and wedding halls, according to the release.
According to Dr Ngirente, it is everyone’s will to get vaccinated, just as it is the government’s duty to protect those who have been vaccinated.
“It is your right not to get vaccinated, but it is not your right to spread the disease to others who have taken measures to protect themselves and are obedient to health protocols. So, that is why we won’t allow people who are not vaccinated to go into large gatherings,” he said.
Currently Rwanda is procuring vaccines using government resources and other sources, administering them for free, and conducting campaigns to raise awareness.
“No one has the right to frustrate those efforts,” explained Ngirente, adding that the issue would be forcing people to be inoculated.
As of Dec. 2, up to 3,625,000 or 40 per cent of the country’s population had been fully vaccinated whereas six million had received their first dose.
Rwanda has received 12.9 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine either through the COVAX facility (a global initiative that aims at accelerating fair and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines), through the donations while others were acquired from the government’s budget.
CU/abj/APA