Should People Be Required To Show Proof Of Vaccination?

Introduction

Nicole Daniels wrote an article last month in the New York Times, which aims to analyze the repercussions of a mandatory ‘vaccine passport’ for entering a country, school, or movie theatre. The rationale behind showing proof of vaccination is that it allows a space for conducting their respective life (back to) normalcy, and it has the ability, in economic terms, to allow steady recovery in the economy. Yes, people should be required to show proof of vaccination because the lives of people with weak immune systems are equally important when it comes to herd immunity.

Analysis

Legally, governments can mandate vaccinations for businesses and educational institutes to demand proof of vaccination from students and customers (Daniels). The practice of requiring residents to pay a fine if not vaccinated against smallpox arose from a 1905 Supreme Court ruling mandating states to enforce the ruling. Additionally, the Supreme Court ruling specifically states that government entities, such as the Army and school boards, require vaccination for travel, service, and entry. Furthermore, Justice John Marshall Harlan states, “A community has the right to protect itself against an epidemic of disease which threatens the safety of its members” in the Jacobson v. Massachusetts case of 1905.

However, the divide in society is wide. For example, private companies can refuse to do business or employ someone with whomever they wish. However, exceptions to the rule exist, and they pertain to the inclusion of vaccination status. In a similar way, governments can also use the legislative process to enact a law that rules out ‘discrimination on the basis of vaccination status.’ American history is evident in efforts to stamp out smallpox in the early 20th century when businesses across the country demanded proof of vaccination, which actually worked. Nevertheless, strict measures can replace the incentivizing approach so that people do not feel it is a sacrifice of their liberty. As a libertarian, the coercive measures of vaccine passes and passports are justified because they promote her immunity, which means protecting the people whose immunity system is weak.

The proponents of ‘vaccination passports’ rely on an inclusive approach for the health and safety of everyone, especially those with fragile immunity to the COVID-19 virus. Nevertheless, a right balance between civil liberty and public health concerns is the purpose of proponents of ‘vaccination passports’ through an efficient and fraud-resistant tool for health screening. The concerns of employees and potential customers are the priority in cruise line businesses, airlines, and entertainment venues, and they take into consideration the concern of gathering in large groups. For example, since last month, businesses in New York have had the additional economic incentive of hosting 100 people indoors while 200 people outdoors. The protocols of social distancing and mask-wearing are in place, and the limits can increase to 150 and 500, respectively, if venues require proof of a ‘negative coronavirus test.’

Conclusion

It is important to distinguish between the people who actually choose to stay vulnerable and people who have weak immune systems, such as individuals on immunosuppressive drugs. Fear in people plays a critical role, and it requires policies like ‘voluntary participation,’ presented by the New York State and the Biden Administration. The people in the United States already show their health papers while travelling or during immigration, which brings us to the point where the necessity of making vaccine passports is viewed as a positive measure at the global level. Respecting the choices and rights of individuals means government policing that entertains different segments of society, irrespective of the beliefs of the majority. Moreover, collective measures like vaccine passports can significantly increase the capacity of humans to fight the COVID-19 virus, which is a global threat and is creating chaos around the world.

Works Cited

Daniels, Nicole. “Should People Be Required to Show Proof of Vaccination?” The New York Times, 14 Apr. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/learning/should-people-be-required-to-show-proof-of-vaccination.html.