Hesitancy in taking jabs

By SHIRLEY MAULUDU
THERE is high level of hesitancy among workers from the private sector to take the Coronavirus (Covid-19) jabs, according to business leaders.
This was revealed through a survey conducted by the PNG Business Council during June and July.
About 150 chief executive officers, managing directors, country managers and senior employees were interviewed, representing about 20,000 employees.
PNG Business Council executive director Douveri Henao told a media briefing yesterday that companies had noted this as a challenge for them to keep their operations going.
“Business leaders have a strong preference on vaccinating all employees,” Henao said.
“But they recognise the challenge of having high vaccine hesitancy rate among their staff.
“Sixty-six per cent of business leaders surveyed are also open to shoulder the cost of vaccination for their employees, 76 per cent are willing to pay K300-K500 per vaccination per person. A majority of the business leaders surveyed are still uncertain about whether or not their organisations can support their vaccination programme for private sector employees and the wider community.
“(About) 54 per cent are determined at this point whether their organisations could support a private sector vaccination programme roll out while 51 per cent cannot say, at this point, if they can support the roll out for the wider community.
“CEOs find it increasingly important that a workforce that is vaccinated is a workforce that will be productive and they will achieve the safety standards that they desire ito make their businesses grow and move forward.
“However, CEOs have identified a large vaccine hesitancy community that’s out there.
“ And so there are challenges that lie ahead for CEOs and managers in balancing that objective of a safer workforce and the use and application of vaccines in the workforce.”