Fiji is not alone in terms of mandating vaccination - Professor Chand

Professor Satish Chand from the University of New South Wales says Fiji is not alone in terms of mandating the COVID-19 vaccination.

Professor Chand highlighted this during the Fiji Law Society’s Virtual Discussion on the topic To Jab or Not to Jab.

He says other countries like Australia, Britain and Italy have mandated this in some workplaces.

When questioned about the impacts of vaccination in an economy, Chand says recovery can come back only if we achieve herd immunity.

Chand says last year the Fijian economy contracted by about 16% and is projected to contract by another 4%  this year.

He says Fiji has lost roughly a decade of progress which means that we have gone backwards in terms of economic progress.

Chand says for him, the spread of the virus is like the spread of a bush fire where the opportunity to contain a bush fire is as soon as it ignites.