Now that politicians are putting the corona vaccine obligation on the table, the debate is open. The arguments pro seem clear, but an obligation is not a miracle solution.
Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Forward) and his Walloon colleague Christie Morreale (PS) put the mandatory vaccination on the table this weekend. Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter (Green) followed suit on Monday, although it is not a party position. Flemish Minister of Public Health Wouter Beke (CD&V) also wants to enter the debate on an obligation
The arguments in favor sound clear. A compulsory coronapril helps to relieve intensive care and society. Moreover, it can be done legally, as the obligation for the polio vaccine shows. And it is more transparent than increasingly denying non-vaccinated people access to public places via the coronapas.
The more people who are vaccinated, the fewer unvaccinated people with corona end up in hospitals. Unvaccinated people are ten times more likely to be hospitalized for corona than vaccinated people. In addition, the corona virus circulates less vigorously when more people are vaccinated.
Still, hospitals would not be completely spared if everyone were vaccinated. Vaccinated people also get infected and end up in the hospital. The vaccines protect in minus-65-year-olds at 90 percent, not 100.
‘Mandatory vaccination will not miraculously solve the problem, and certainly not that of the fourth wave,’ says Steven Van Gucht, virologist at the scientific institute Sciensano. The familiar recipes will remain necessary: working from home where possible, mouth masks, keeping a distance from vulnerable people and testing. However, these classics can be rolled out less drastically.’
Mandatory vaccination does not mean that all brakes can be off. Without additional measures, healthcare will remain under pressure. Corona is not merely the problem of the unvaccinated, but of all of us,’ says Van Gucht. ‘The policy has allowed too much social contact too quickly. We should have spread that out much better. If we allow contacts to increase more gradually, the height of a fourth wave can remain lower.’
Feasible but not simple
Vaccination is a cost-effective measure, however. Vaccines are spotty cheap compared to the cost of testing and flattening society.
Legally, an obligation seems possible. ‘We already have a precedent: the mandatory polio vaccination,’ says Christophe Lemmens, a lawyer specializing in health law and visiting professor at the University of Antwerp. ‘The coronavirus is not comparable to polio, but the legal basis is the same. So it’s not that difficult.’
Lemmens argues for a thorough debate in the Chamber, following hearings with experts. That takes time: count on months before an obligation is legally complete. And then you have to start the rollout. Moreover, the booster shot needs to be considered. Do you require the vaccination every six months or every other year?
But the trickiest question, according to Lemmens, is the sanction. ‘Refusing a polio vaccine is punishable by a fine and/or a prison sentence. What do we do with the corona vaccine, which may have to be administered every year? That will be an archly difficult discussion.’
Split
Mandatory vaccination seems more transparent than the 2G policy, which requires you to be vaccinated or cured to go out to restaurants or cafes. That policy will be one of the key points of the Consultation Committee Wednesday. A negative test would no longer be enough to get a Covid Safe Ticket. Many see that as a disguised obligation.
De Sutter is resolutely against a 2G policy. ‘That leads to a divide in society,’ says the Deputy Prime Minister for Green, who also refers to the proposal to exclude non-vaccinated people from access to discos. She prefers a clearer line: an obligation.
The question is whether an obligation would not also lead to a division. Rabid opponents will refuse the corona vaccine even with an obligation. In Brussels, 29 percent are not vaccinated. These are often people with a vulnerable socio-economic profile. Do you convince them with a financial penalty or with sensitization?
‘I still believe in the latter,’ says Van Gucht. Vaccination rates are rising, albeit slowly. I think it’s important to get people on board with a story about vaccination, rather than pushing them further away. With an obligation, those people might side against any kind of vaccination. Also for their children.’
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Article from 15th of November 2021.
Now that politicians are putting the corona vaccine obligation on the table, the debate is open. The arguments pro seem clear, but an obligation is not a miracle solution.
Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Forward) and his Walloon colleague Christie Morreale (PS) put the mandatory vaccination on the table this weekend. Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter (Green) followed suit on Monday, although it is not a party position. Flemish Minister of Public Health Wouter Beke (CD&V) also wants to enter the debate on an obligation
The arguments in favor sound clear. A compulsory coronapril helps to relieve intensive care and society. Moreover, it can be done legally, as the obligation for the polio vaccine shows. And it is more transparent than increasingly denying non-vaccinated people access to public places via the coronapas.
The more people who are vaccinated, the fewer unvaccinated people with corona end up in hospitals. Unvaccinated people are ten times more likely to be hospitalized for corona than vaccinated people. In addition, the corona virus circulates less vigorously when more people are vaccinated.
Still, hospitals would not be completely spared if everyone were vaccinated. Vaccinated people also get infected and end up in the hospital. The vaccines protect in minus-65-year-olds at 90 percent, not 100.
‘Mandatory vaccination will not miraculously solve the problem, and certainly not that of the fourth wave,’ says Steven Van Gucht, virologist at the scientific institute Sciensano. The familiar recipes will remain necessary: working from home where possible, mouth masks, keeping a distance from vulnerable people and testing. However, these classics can be rolled out less drastically.’
Mandatory vaccination does not mean that all brakes can be off. Without additional measures, healthcare will remain under pressure. Corona is not merely the problem of the unvaccinated, but of all of us,’ says Van Gucht. ‘The policy has allowed too much social contact too quickly. We should have spread that out much better. If we allow contacts to increase more gradually, the height of a fourth wave can remain lower.’
Feasible but not simple
Vaccination is a cost-effective measure, however. Vaccines are spotty cheap compared to the cost of testing and flattening society.
Legally, an obligation seems possible. ‘We already have a precedent: the mandatory polio vaccination,’ says Christophe Lemmens, a lawyer specializing in health law and visiting professor at the University of Antwerp. ‘The coronavirus is not comparable to polio, but the legal basis is the same. So it’s not that difficult.’
Lemmens argues for a thorough debate in the Chamber, following hearings with experts. That takes time: count on months before an obligation is legally complete. And then you have to start the rollout. Moreover, the booster shot needs to be considered. Do you require the vaccination every six months or every other year?
But the trickiest question, according to Lemmens, is the sanction. ‘Refusing a polio vaccine is punishable by a fine and/or a prison sentence. What do we do with the corona vaccine, which may have to be administered every year? That will be an archly difficult discussion.’
Split
Mandatory vaccination seems more transparent than the 2G policy, which requires you to be vaccinated or cured to go out to restaurants or cafes. That policy will be one of the key points of the Consultation Committee Wednesday. A negative test would no longer be enough to get a Covid Safe Ticket. Many see that as a disguised obligation.
De Sutter is resolutely against a 2G policy. ‘That leads to a divide in society,’ says the Deputy Prime Minister for Green, who also refers to the proposal to exclude non-vaccinated people from access to discos. She prefers a clearer line: an obligation.
The question is whether an obligation would not also lead to a division. Rabid opponents will refuse the corona vaccine even with an obligation. In Brussels, 29 percent are not vaccinated. These are often people with a vulnerable socio-economic profile. Do you convince them with a financial penalty or with sensitization?
‘I still believe in the latter,’ says Van Gucht. Vaccination rates are rising, albeit slowly. I think it’s important to get people on board with a story about vaccination, rather than pushing them further away. With an obligation, those people might side against any kind of vaccination. Also for their children.’
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Pff, if the 30 to 40 % non vaxed at the icu were vaxed, our icu situation would’ve gone from just not to just managable.
Edit: but now that everybody and their cat had the rona, it’s too late. Maybe we should make the next rona vaccine mandatory.
Drivers licenses don’t make the roads 100% safe, so why make them mandatory?