People turn to compulsory vaccination in the face of pandemic outbreaks

Although the health certificate is required in a growing number of countries worldwide for citizens to have access to public places or events, few have mandated the mandatory vaccination of all adults against covid-19 so far.

However, the debate over the issue has begun to rekindle, especially after the appearance of the new variant of the coronavirus Omicron strain, which is causing global concern.

In the EU, Austria was the first to announce on 19 November that it would make it mandatory for all adults to be vaccinated against covid-19 from 1 February 2022.

“We have enough vaccines. Science has given us the opportunity to get out of this vicious cycle of epidemics and lockdown talk. And not enough people are using this opportunity and getting this ticket and that’s why we have “Austrian Chancellor Alexander Salenberg had said at the time, explaining his decision to make vaccination against covid-19 mandatory.

On Tuesday, Germany’s next chancellor, Olaf Solz, called for a mandatory vaccination against covid-19, which could be adopted in the country in February or March.

A bill is expected to be tabled and passed in the Bundestag by the end of the year, with all parties in favor of mandatory vaccination, with the exception of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

It is time for the European Union to “consider” the issue of compulsory vaccination, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday, adding that the decision rests with the Member States.

“After the advent of the new variant of the coronavirus, which may be more contagious, people are in a ‘battle against time,'” von der Leyen said.

“If you look at the numbers, 77% of adults in the EU have been vaccinated and if you look at the total population, the figure is 66%. And that means that one third of the European population is not immune, that is, 150 million people.” , underlined the President of the European Commission.

“There are many and not all of them can be vaccinated – children for example or people with specific diseases – but the majority can and therefore I think it is understandable and appropriate to have this discussion now,” von der Leyen concluded.

Countries where vaccination is already mandatory

Two Central Asian countries, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, have imposed compulsory vaccination against covid-19.

In Turkmenistan, one of the few countries in the world that has not reported any case of covid-19, at least 73% of the population had received at least one dose of vaccine by the end of August, according to the World Health Organization.

In Tajikistan, by contrast, only 29% of the population had received a first dose of the vaccine by 14 November.

Vaccination against covid-19 is mandatory in Indonesia as well, but only on paper, as there is a shortage of vaccines. Authorities have managed to give at least one dose of vaccine to 49% of the country’s population.

After all, from February 2021, the covid-19 vaccine is mandatory for all Vatican residents as well as all workers in the world’s smallest state.

From the end of December, the vaccination of all adults and tourists in New Caledonia will be mandatory, a French acquisition with a high degree of autonomy.

Obligation for certain groups

In many countries it is mandatory to vaccinate specific professional groups.

In the US, President Joe Biden announced in early November that from January 4, 2022, vaccination against covid-19 will be mandatory for approximately 100 million federal and private sector workers.

However, the implementation of the measure has been suspended after the many appeals filed in court.

On Thursday, Biden called on private companies to voluntarily enforce the vaccination requirement.

In Canada, all federal employees must be fully immunized, as are those traveling by train, ship or plane. A health pass is required to enter public areas.

In France, healthcare workers, nursing home workers, firefighters, EKAB workers and those who offer home help to people in need are required to be vaccinated against covid-19 as early as 15 September.

In Italy, vaccination is mandatory for health workers from the end of May, while for workers in nursing homes from October 10.

In England, nursing home workers should have been fully immunized by mid-November and public sector health workers by April 2022.

In Latvia, employers can put their unvaccinated staff on a “forced unpaid leave” and dismiss them after three months. Compulsory vaccination also applies to Members of Parliament who are relieved of their duties and deprived of their salary until they are vaccinated.

In Hungary, where vaccination against covid-19 is mandatory for health workers, the road was opened in October for civil servants and employees.

In Slovenia, the decree on compulsory vaccination of civil servants was suspended in late September by the Constitutional Court.

Kazakhstan has been asking for more public officials to be vaccinated since early July, and Ukraine made vaccination mandatory for civil servants and teachers in October.

Authorities in Zimbabwe had warned in mid-September that those civil servants who refused to be vaccinated would have to resign.

Obligation imposed by companies

A growing number of large companies require part or all of their employees to have a vaccination certificate.

In the US, this applies to the pharmaceutical company CVS, the oil company Chevron, Disney and Goldman Sachs.

In Australia, Qantas Airlines has imposed mandatory vaccinations on all its staff.

Not mandatory, but almost

In some cases, vaccination against covid-19 is not mandatory, but restrictions on the unvaccinated make it possible.

In Saudi Arabia, those wishing to enter public or private buildings must be vaccinated, as well as use the means of transportation.

In Italy, school staff and students, if not vaccinated, must have a negative diagnostic test every two days.

From 18 October, in the Dominican Republic, anyone wishing to enter indoors or on public transport must be vaccinated.

Source: AMPE