- As you are aware, the vaccination hesitancy observed at the beginning of the inoculation campaign has not changed even after concerted efforts from the authorities to completely banish unverified doubts surrounding the same. It is amply clear that the authorities are still struggling to make hesitant people comprehend the unquestionable benefits of the vaccine even in these challenging times. The scientific and medical evidence emerging leaves no doubts whatsoever that receiving vaccine jabs will not only be beneficial in keeping the severity of the infection at a much lesser rate but also avoids the infected getting admitted to a hospital seeking advanced treatments for survival.
PC: Dean Aloise
- Thus, it makes imminent sense to not nurture hesitancy in getting ourselves inoculated at the first given opportunity. The rampaging and devastating second Covid wave have proved beyond doubt that vaccination indeed protects an individual from getting badly affected. Despite the available evidence and exhortations from the medical, scientific, and celebrity communities, there is a sizeable number of people who are still reluctant to receive the jab largely owing to unfounded beliefs. Fearing health complications, permanent damages to the bodily organs, and most bizarrely, infertility concerns are some of the most common fears bogging people who are otherwise eligible to receive vaccines.
- Make no mistake, the authorities are bound to come out with diktats compelling the eligible to receive vaccine much against their wishes. Recently, a Gujarat High Court interim order restrained the Indian Air Force from coercive action against a corporal refusing to get inoculated. Does this queer the pitch for employers’ intent on compulsory vaccination? Note that the Assam government is ascertaining the vaccination status of frontline workers before releasing salaries. Though no central guideline has made vaccination compulsory, continued resistance from the citizens, including those serving in the government categorized as frontline workers, is forcing the authorities to initiate tougher measures.
PC: Eerishika Pankaj
- It is to be noted that any coercion often leads to the triggering of counterproductive social behavior notwithstanding earlier precedents in some states having laws backing compulsory smallpox vaccination. The moot point to ponder over is here is do we need to have a complicated, unsolvable debate between personal liberty and the greater good. Not necessarily. The freedom of conscience under the Constitution’s Article 25 cannot override public health. More appropriately, employers are responsible for employee safety as an unvaccinated employee poses a health risk. Even governments as paymasters are in the same boat here. Blatantly claiming any anti-vax fundamental right in workplaces is plain wrong.
- Conversely, the Government of India should issue unambiguous guidelines, keeping in mind the larger health benefits, making it worthwhile to impress upon state governments, associations, commercial bodies, relevant boards, private establishments, councils, and informal groups to explain the importance of vaccine jabs, especially what an unvaccinated individual might experience during a pandemic. Making the jabs compulsory would not serve the larger interest of the nation. If a citizen wishes to remain unvaccinated, that is his right, but then he/she must recognize it will not be a costless decision. It is in the best interest of all of us to receive vaccine shots without believing in unverified tales surrounding the same.
