AMMAN – On Saturday, Minister of
State for Media Affairs and government spokesperson Sakher Dudin said that
Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh had issued Defense Order No. 32.
اضافة اعلان
The new defense order regulates the
working abilities of individuals who have not taken a
COVID-19 vaccine — and
reactions to the new rules have been mixed.
The new order requires the
unvaccinated to receive a
PCR test twice a week or face a heavy fine. But some
citizens criticized what they said is an attempt to force citizens to take the
vaccine against their will.
However, others speaking to
Jordan
News suggested that the new decision will encourage people to get
vaccinated and will contribute to fighting the pandemic.
The order has already changed some
individual’s plans to get vaccinated. Farah Al-Omar, an employee at a private
company, told
Jordan News that "some of my friends got sick right
after taking the first dose of the vaccine. That is why I did not want to take the vaccine but after
the latest defense order I decided to take it — I have no other choice."
"I was deprived from going to
the cinema and to the gym because I have not taken the vaccine, but I did not
care,” she said.
"Personally, I am not convinced of the importance of the
vaccine or its effectiveness but now the matter is different because my job is
a priority for me and I do not want to lose it."
The Jordan Food and Drug
Administration has evaluated all of the COVID-19 vaccines available in the
Kingdom and said that they are safe and effective.
Alternately, Mohammad Mubaideen, an
employee in the governmental sector, told Jordan News that "I want
to thank the government for taking such a great decision that will encourage
people to take the vaccine and which will help in getting rid of the pandemic
in a safe and a guaranteed way."
"I still do not understand why
people are afraid of taking the vaccine,” said Mubaideen. “I have taken the two
doses of Pfizer and I have not gotten any side effects. Honestly, I am even
feeling better now that the chance of me getting the virus has decreased.
“The pandemic had affected everyone
significantly and now is the time to stop this calamity."
Rawan Yousef, a university student
said that "taking the vaccine is certainly better than doing a PCR test
twice a week"
"Right after Eid Al-Adha, I
will go and take the vaccine. This defense order has encouraged me take it; I
was not afraid of taking it honestly, but I was waiting for the right time to
take it and I assume this is the time."
Youssef added that most of her
friends and colleagues have already taken the vaccine.
"Regarding my experience with
doing a PCR test, I can say that it was painful," she said. "I had to
do it once when I felt the symptoms of COVID-19 to make sure if I really was
sick or not. I cannot imagine myself doing it twice a week — that would be
really hard and painful for me."
Dina Mohammad, an employee at a
private company, told
Jordan News that "when the vaccines were
released, our government announced that it will never be mandatory. But I can
tell after such a defense order that it is mandatory actually."
Mohammad was seemingly responding
to Dudin’s comments; on Sunday, the official emphasized in another statement to
local media that the government is not forcing anyone to take the COVID-19.
"I cannot understand how the
government wants to oblige us to take the vaccine while it is still new and we
are not sure of its side effects,” she said. "Personally, I have a very
weak body, I cannot take any type of medication or vaccination or I will get
immediately ill. My body does not bear strong medications."
"As for having a PCR test — well,
I have not experienced one before but I assume it is still better than
injecting vaccines inside my body," she said. "The biggest obstacle
is that both choices are bad. Why not just let people wear their masks, commit
to social distancing, sterilization, and that is it?”
A total of 2,669,400 people have
received the COVID-19 vaccine in Jordan since the inoculation campaign began.
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