Thumbs up for post-vaxx plans

The interesting thing about anti-vaxxers is that they often share common cause with those who agitate to “open up the economy” to help the country recover from the financial devastation of the past 18 months.

Yet, the one single phenomenon which could actually catapult us back to normality – widespread anti-Covid vaccinations – is a grievous violation of human rights and “freedom of choice” to these people.

Tell that to the tourism and hospitality industries, which have been among the hardest hit – by lockdowns, curfews
and alcohol bans. South Africa’s tourist sector, which brought in billions in revenue from foreign visitors, desperately needs to return to the previous “normal”.

The reality is that foreign tourists are going to be in no hurry to visit a country with a high infection rate – and where there is significant push-back (for whatever reason) against getting vaccinated.

That is why our hoteliers, our restaurateurs, our tour operators and our airlines are going to start moving to get as many of their staff vaxxed as possible… and why many of them might well support mandatory jabs.

The issue goes beyond the mere intellectual debate among the chattering, ivermectin classes in the suburbs; for tourism businesses, it is a matter or financial life and death.

And for some of their workers, it might be literally life and death because without jobs, some are in danger of starving.

The digital vaccination certificates are just over a week away, according to government. This will enable verification of vaccination status and allow many South Africans to travel abroad again.

The system will, hopefully, also allow us to check the vaxx status of incoming foreigners.

If we implement this system now and accelerate the vaccination programmes, we will be in pole position when the world starts travelling again.

Who wouldn’t welcome that?