There’s a growing worldwide movement promoting the idea COVID-19 vaccination should become compulsory. Especially in ‘frontline positions’ where the public have little or no obligation but to go there. UK health secretary Sajid Javid has suggested COVID vaccines should be compulsory for National Health Service (NHS) workers. But some are pushing back hard against mandatory healthcare vaccination, despite 80% of the population already having jabs.
Compulsory Vaccination ‘Could Spark Mass Exodus of Staff’
China Daily reported September 6, 2021 the proposal has been on the table for four months. Since then, Facebook group ‘NHS workers for choice, no restrictions for declining a vaccine’ has gathered momentum.
Close to 2,600 people have joined claiming an interest. It’s possible as many as one-in-four NHS workers are unvaccinated at some hospitals in the absence of mandatory healthcare vaccination.
Having a full vaccination reduces the probability of COVID-19 infection by 85%, and therefore the transmission rate by a similar magnitude. Infirm people are especially susceptible to the disease, and they form a significant number of NHS customers.
Most of them have little option outside the service. There’s a strong case they have a right to treatment in a medically-safe environment. But what about the rights of the healthcare workers themselves?
Is There a Duty to Impose Mandatory Healthcare Vaccination?
The UK Department of Health has said ‘NHS staff have a duty of care to those most vulnerable to COVID-19. And we are encouraging all frontline staff to come forward for the jab.’ However, the call has led to talk of a ‘mass exodus’ according to China Daily.
Meanwhile public and health sector union Unison has warned government ministers they are ‘sleepwalking into disaster’. Healthcare workers have been in short supply in the United Kingdom for quite some time. This is because of long working hours and claimed low wages.
We publish this story as an example of the tension between the rights of the individual, and their duty to the community. This is a difficult path to tread with strong positions on both sides of the debate. Today, we are grateful we don’t have UK health secretary Sajid Javid’s job.
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Preview Image: United Kingdom NHS Hospital
