The question of enforcing vaccinations is as old as vaccinations themselves. However, it is only since the – by now repeatedly disproven and non-peer reviewed – Wakefield study in the Lancet Journal was published that the anti-vaccination movement has really gained genuine traction. Although this report will not be explicitly discussed here, I have linked the report at the bottom of the article if you are interested in reading further into it. Since the debunking of this widely disliked article (by healthcare workers and academics alike), the anti-vaccination movement has seemed to have created their own culture, wherein the ethics of accepting vaccinations has been warped and developed into a much more self-centric ‘thing’ than it once was. This has been especially prominent during the aftermath of the initial COVID-19 outbreak, where although many have genuine and (somewhat) easy access to safe vaccination centres, they are choosing against using these offers. However, it is not just anti-vaxxers that are choosing this path, ethnic minorities[1], women[2] (especially middle-class unemployed mothers) and young people are too, for various historical and socioeconomic reasons. What can countries do to combat this lack of uptake for the vaccine? What is within the ethical guidelines of countries to do to essentially coerce or force individuals to protect the safety of those around them?
Most countries will agree that they want their nationals to be vaccinated, regardless of any external circumstances. Being what the UK Government deem a ‘vulnerable individual’, I was able to get my first COVID vaccine on the first of March of this year. Despite knowing the risks of the AstraZeneca vaccine for those with blood disorders, I was still advised to receive my second dose of the same vaccine. This is because the risk was incredibly small and the benefits so high. It is clear to me, as it would be to most liberals, that the benefits of protecting yourself and, through that, those around you is more important than anything else. Another example of this would be in Austria, where it is officially a mandated government policy that all 14-year-olds can be fined up to 3600 euros every 3 months if they choose not to be vaccinated[3]. Their minister for constitutional affairs, Karoline Edstadler, said in response to the new change in law that ‘we do not want to punish people who are not vaccinated. We want to win them over and convince them to get vaccinated’.
Their conservative government has so far succeeded to convince only 68% of their population to become fully vaccinated against the covid-19[4], and have had to plunge the country into their fourth national lockdown. Despite agreeing with the belief of enforcing vaccinations, I completely disagree with the way in which Austria has decided to do so. Ensuing from the paternalistic approaches from the Freedom Party of Austria (Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs), it makes sense that they would walk in this direction. However, the contradictions from within their own party make one question their approach. Surely if they truly do not want to punish the unvaccinated, they would be rewarding those who are, as opposed to (purely) financially punishing those who aren’t vaccinated.
Austria has been the first EU country to officially make vaccinations compulsory, the question now remains as to whether the others will follow suit. In Germany, there are (non-solidified) plans to make vaccinations mandatory for all adults from February. Conversations between Scholz and his predecessor Merkel have mentioned agreements to pass legislation in the national parliament to make vaccinations mandatory (though not until February 2022[5]) as an “act of national solidarity”. Prior to the legalisation of this regulation, the full details will of course be pushed through Germany’s Ethics Council, and the Bundestag would vote on the legislation by the end of the year. Furthermore, they have recently decided on what can be seen as a form of punishment for the unvaccinated. Not only has Olaf Scholz announced a ‘lockdown of the unvaccinated’, but him and Merkel have both agreed upon (alongside the rest of Germany’s leaders) that many daily tasks outside the home will no longer be available for those unwilling to be vaccinated. Although I agree with Germany’s approach much more than that of Austria, it still does not seem to be satisfying.
Personally, as previously stated, I do believe that in the circumstance of a pandemic that has lasted over 18 months, and doesn’t seem to abide for the time being, it is a necessity that vaccinations be mandatory, apart from exceptions of course. From a philosophical viewpoint, when it comes to medical healthcare, I have seen that utilitarian steps are often those which end up most successful, therefore that is the approach we should be taking, especially in such desperate times. With this, and taking into account liberal ideologies and thoughts, I think that vaccinations should be mandatory without punishment or reward either way. In the same way that masks have been compulsory, without force being implemented. We trust the public to know that masks are the best way forward in the current situation, and businesses followed suit. Devolved power from the public institutions, such as local councils can make decisions based on their GP practice availability and funding, as to whether they would want to take further measures to ensure that their constituents are keeping themselves and everyone else safe. As for the national governmental powers, the focus should be on education for the public on how to make the best choice, and making them mandatory. This is the most human approach to the situation, and if there is anything we need in this day and age, it’s a humane attitude.
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56813982
[2] https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/private/pdf/265341/aspe-ib-vaccine-hesitancy.pdf
[3] https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/countries-making-covid-19-vaccines-mandatory-2021-08-16/
[4] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/austria-announce-details-planned-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-2021-12-09/
[5] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/02/germany-could-make-covid-vaccination-mandatory-says-merkel