By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
Already we are experiencing vaccine apartheid. Rich countries get massive supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine while poor countries beg for “scraps” from those nations, some of which have weaponized the so-called “vaccine diplomacy.”
While inequities in vaccine production and distribution brought about by the “every-country-for-itself” approach allow the continued suffering of developing and underdeveloped nations, now comes the proposed vaccine passport system, which adds fire to this medical discrimination.
Why discriminate against unvaccinated people? Why force them to take the jab? What about those with natural immunity after recuperating from a COVID-19 infection? What about those willing to get inoculated but could not because vaccine supplies remain scarce?
The Lower House deliberates on a proposed bill (HB 9252) authored by Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga for mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 for those eligible as determined by DOH.
Under the bill, “no persons who are covered by this Act, as determined by the DOH, shall be allowed to enter, convene or occupy public places, whether government or privately owned.” Persons with medical conditions as determined by the DOH or by a licensed medical doctor shall be exempted from the inoculation, the bill said.
Opposing the House of Representatives’ proposed bill is Senate President Tito Sotto’s proposal to enact a law that will build legal protections for people who decline vaccinations.
I think the government could still impose a vaccine requirement. However, the law should exempt an individual who presents verbal – oral or in writing – declaration of medical contraindication, natural immunity, or reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs.
The national government, including local government units, businesses, schools, and the general public, should not discriminate against unvaccinated individuals by denying them service or access to facilities. They should not also segregate them from vaccinated people and require only them to wear face masks. They should not be given other vaccination status label either. Nor should they be penalized socially or financially for declining inoculation.
With the surge of infections caused by the Delta variant, it turns out that both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated can spread the virus equally. Infectious disease experts in the US call this “virus shedding” or the transmission of the virus by vaccinated individuals who do not experience COVID-19 symptoms when they catch it.
In addition, vaccines only provide an amount of protection for people not to get critically ill. So, there is no point in discriminating against the unvaxxed. Ergo, vaccine passports are useless.
If at all, it can easily lead to a class system in the country where segregation and discrimination will proliferate like the virus itself.
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