Africa-Press – Namibia. EMPLOYEES of Dis-Chem Pharmacy at Wernhill Park in Windhoek have until 1 February 2022 to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
The store administration manager Trudi Doeses confirmed to The Namibian on Thursday that they are enforcing the vaccination policy as per the instruction from their head office in South Africa.
“We held a meeting regarding the mandatory vaccination. Some people did that and we were given a chance until 2 February. Those people who do not want to be vaccinated must provide a medical exemption paper,” she said.
Doeses added that their store is not forcing anyone but they are merely following instructions from the mother company in South Africa. Store managers at other Dis-Chem Pharmacies in Namibia are not following the group instruction, saying the memo applies to South African stores only.
The group memo dated 6 December, which was sent to all its stores in South Africa and Namibia, indicates that the company has decided to make Covid-19 vaccination a requirement.
“We are an organisation that operates in the healthcare industry, and it is critical that we focus on the wellbeing of all, and care for life. A large proportion of our employees interact directly with the public. Therefore, the company has decided to make Covid-19 vaccination a requirement,” said the memo.
According to the memo, employees who are not fully vaccinated by 1 February 2022, will be required to provide a negative antigen test every Monday and the test must be taken before entering the stores.
The employees are also required to wear an N95 mask at all times. “Both of these will be at the employees’ own cost. If either of the requirements are not complied with, disciplinary action will be taken,” said the memo.
Dis-Chem Pharmacies, Standard Bank Group, Mediclinic, MTN Group, Old Mutual and Sanlam are among South African companies that have introduced a vaccination policy in that country.
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