Imposing advice Vaccine passport And other restrictions on movement People who have not been vaccinated Scientists warned last week that they should be treated with caution in the UK. They said such plans will not lead to a rapid decrease in the number of Covid-19 cases and may trigger hostility to future vaccine campaigns.
These warnings were issued after several European countries-including Belgium, Germany and Norway-revealed last week that as the rate of cases across the African continent continues to soar, they are preparing to step up measures to address the low absorption of the Covid-19 vaccine. on Friday, Austria announced It will be the first country in Europe to enforce the coronavirus injection. From February 1 next year, all citizens must have one.
Slovakia also prohibits unvaccinated people from entering all non-essential shops and shopping centers, while in Greece, new restrictions will prohibit access to bars, restaurants, cinemas, museums and gyms.
Repression resulted in Mass protests broke out across EuropeTens of thousands of people-holding signs “Refuse to be vaccinated”-gathered in Vienna’s Heroes’ Square. After the riots broke out in Rotterdam due to the new Covid-19 measures in the Netherlands, the Dutch police shot and wounded them. At least two people.
Opinion polls also show that vaccine passports have received strong support in most countries. Professor Mark Woolhouse of the University of Edinburgh said: “They are a way to encourage people to jab and reduce the spread of Covid-19.”
“However, it takes time to vaccinate millions of people, and it takes two weeks to fully protect one person. Therefore, if the priority is to reduce the transmission rate as soon as possible, I will not get a vaccine passport first. I will contact you first Negatively test things like passports.”
This view was supported by Raghib Ali of Cambridge University. “I think compulsory vaccination is not a good idea,” he told reporters Observer“The key to vaccinations is to maintain people’s trust. If you cancel people’s consent to take medicines or vaccines, it will be lost.”
He added that a key factor is that Britain is not in danger of following Europe. “Europe follows us in the number of cases Delta waves on the mainland And because their vaccine program started late, their immunity declined later than here. “
Simon Williams of Swansea University points to Scotland’s certification program, which requires people attending nightclubs and major sporting events to disclose their vaccination status: “The evidence is that the program at best has only slightly increased vaccination rates.”
Williams added that if vaccine passports are introduced, they are unlikely to arouse backlash among those who are just hesitant to vaccinate. “But for those who have a strong resistance to vaccines, there is a real risk of reaction. When you start to introduce a new vaccine program for Covid, flu or other diseases, this may have unwelcome consequences.”
This view was supported by the British vaccine expert Peter English. “The’problem’ of compulsory vaccination is that it may not necessarily solve the problem of vaccination, especially when the vaccination rate is already high. It is difficult to implement. How do you vaccinate people who refuse to agree? Is it true? Increase the proportion of the population receiving the vaccine? Will it increase distrust of vaccination, increase dissent and protest, and thus actually reduce the vaccination rate?”
Professor David Matthews of the University of Bristol said it is important to maintain a dialogue with adults who have decided not to vaccinate in the UK. “We need to get in touch with them and hope that they can reconsider why they have not been vaccinated based on the information we have obtained from all over the world about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Vaccination can easily become the most effective way to get rid of the pandemic, and also to avoid more The best way to block.”
However, Professor Lawrence Young of the University of Warwick emphasized that vaccine passports should be regarded as an important weapon against Covid-19.
“If the current level of infection and hospitalization in England continues or rises further, we will have no choice but to limit the spread of the virus by introducing some form of vaccine passport, while reintroducing mandatory Face mask In crowded, poorly ventilated indoor spaces.These minor inconveniences can really help us through the winter while continuing to launch Boost vaccination. “
