The Global Covid-19 Health challenge has brought to the forefront many pressing issues. Many questions abound, but this articles seeks to address and articulate the positions of divergent camps on mandatory vaccinations.
Those who are for mandatory vaccinations
Those who are for mandatory vaccinations site the historic role vaccines have had in combating formerly life threatening conditions such as polio and measles. There is little debate that those medical innovations have saved the lives of countless people and have enabled subsequent generations to live in a world where those health risks have largely been relegated to the category of overcome sicknesses. It is this success that the current medical factions tout as they push for vaccinations to be mandated for in order to participate in everyday activities. It is true that vaccines are vital in the fight against disease, however nuance must be applied when evaluating the circumstance as it stands. We must emphasize that these are mandates. In other words those who do not comply are barred from participating in the social happenings of the community, and could soon face worse(fines, even jail) if the clamors of some are heeded. While there is precedent for these sorts of restrictions (mandatory vaccinations for polio in public schools etc.) the speed and efficacy of the current vaccine rollouts while on the surface may be laudable do not eliminate the valid medical concerns about long term effects of a vaccine that has not been studied for the traditional extensive periods that other vaccines have been scrutinized with. Those who are for mandatory vaccinations have also employed the use of media, celebrities and public entities to push for more vaccination, while these may be seen as strategies for the common good, phrases such as “screw your freedoms” as said by former California Governor and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger as well as the term “anti vaxxers” have been lobbed by those seeking to subdue and silence questions about the wisdom of mandatory vaccinations on an already distrustful public. These occurrences are the reality of the debate and exacerbate these medical questions to the realm of politics and furthermore ethical questions of right and wrong.
Those who are against mandatory vaccinations
Mandatory vaccinations have inflamed concerns about the trajectory of civil liberties in the United States and across the world. Those who are against mandatory vaccinations believe that the question of whether or not to take the vaccine should be a personal one. Statistics on the efficacy of the vaccines and the persistent mask mandates lead to further questions about the risk vs reward of taking the vaccines. In addition the political posturing and often pejorative labeling of those who have not yet taken the vaccine is seen by many to underscore an ongoing dealing in “bad faith”, a heavy handed approach to engaging those of differing opinions. There is no question that while vaccines have historically been beneficial, the nature of attempting to compel citizens to act threatens not only the action itself but the fabric of society when seen to be tyrannical.
Audience what are your thoughts? Should vaccines be mandated or are citizens right to be outraged by a perceived assault on civil liberties?