The Coronavirus Vaccine Debate
Image courtesy of unsplash.com
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than 1,797,500 people globally and has resulted in the death of over 110,000 people. The entire world is racing to find a vaccine to put a stop to this pandemic. If and when a vaccine is developed, should it be made mandatory due to the unique nature of this situation? The Anti-Vaxxer community says no.
The community argues any form of government mandate for compulsory vaccination is an infringement of their right to liberty and/or freedom of religion as mandatory vaccination infringes on the right to choose what is put into one’s body. In the case of children, it takes away the right of a parent to choose for their child. People have the right to make an informed decision to refuse any treatment.
Moreover, some people refuse vaccination due to its components. For example, the flu vaccine, Fluenz Tetra, was not welcomed by some Muslim groups because it contained pork gelatine. On the other hand, their decision not to vaccinate themselves or their family members infringes on the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for others. Vaccines only work if enough people get them to create what’s called herd immunity, which slows rapidly spreading diseases and protects the small number of people who are prevented from getting vaccines for medical reasons. When people opt out of vaccination, the community’s collective immunity is weakened. The World Health Organisation has labelled “vaccine hesitancy” one of the top 10 threats to global health.
In 1905 the US Supreme Court famously addressed mandatory vaccinations in regard to smallpox in Jacobson v Massachusetts. There the Court ruled that the police power of a state absolutely included reasonable regulations established by legislature to protect public health and safety. Real liberty for all cannot exist if each individual is allowed to act without regard to the injury that his or her actions might cause others; liberty is constrained by law.
Both freedom of religion and right to liberty are qualified rights i.e., States are allowed to interfere with these rights as long as it is within the legal limits and the measures taken are proportional to address these issues.
By Swarnim Agrahari