A nursing lecturer at the Sangam College of Nursing is under fire after allegedly discouraging her relatives from taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

It has prompted the college’s owners, Then India Sanmarga Ikya (TISI), to launch an investigation into the claims.

TISI Sangam national president Sadasivan Naicker said it was unfortunate that a health professional had decided to influence people not to take the COVID-19 jab for their own safety and protection.

Additionally, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong has also revealed that a group of nurses at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital have hesitated to get their COVID-19 vaccination.

“We can only do so much,” Dr Fong said.

“We work with science and we’ve got an impending set of problems that are going to swamp us if we are not going to act fast.”

Sangam College of Nursing

The lecturer is teaching at the college in Labasa.

TISI Sangam president Mr Naicker said the views of the lecturer were her own and did not represent the views of the religious group.

TISI Sangam is one of the country’s largest religious and educational organisations.

Mr Naicker said: “We have advised all our members to be vaccinated in order to ensure their safety and their families. All our staff, all Sangam members, our stakeholders had been urged to do so.”

Dr Fong said a relook at employment contracts could be considered in the future.

Feedback:  inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj