Mandatory Coronavirus Vaccinations? PAS experts indicate groups and situations that should be covered by the obligation

The COVID-19 team at the president of the Polish Academy of Sciences spoke on Monday on the obligation to vaccinate against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Experts pointed out that vaccination is an essential tool for effectively and safely reducing the spread of COVID-19, along with its consequences and costs. “Therefore, it is urgent to consider introducing their obligation in selected groups and situations” – underlined in the message sent.

According to scientists, while waiting for the next wave of COVID-19 cases, we should consider introducing mandatory vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 – at least in groups of people particularly at risk of infection.

WATCH LIVE ON TVN24 GO

“Obviously, in the first place, this obligation should apply to medical workers – for the same reasons for which vaccinations were made available to this professional group as group zero. It is also worth noting and appreciating the maturity, responsibility and professionalism of Polish doctors, who in approx. percent took vaccinations against COVID-19 “- underlined.

“It is also worth considering the obligation to vaccinate other professional and social groups that are crucial for the functioning of the state in a pandemic (army, police, fire brigade, teachers) or particularly exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to direct contact with clients (eg rehabilitation specialists, hairdressers, postmen, beauty salon workers, etc.). These are issues that require urgent debate and decisions “- the experts emphasized.

According to experts, an unequivocal epidemiological indication for the introduction of mandatory vaccination is the ongoing pandemic, as well as its high costs and long-term consequences related to the limitation of access to the health care system and the prospect of closing workplaces, schools, churches, cultural and recreational institutions, etc.

“The obligation to undergo vaccination means restriction of personal liberty. However, it should be remembered that unfettered personal freedom ends where the individual begins to pose a threat to others. To put it bluntly and bluntly, only the financial side of maintaining universal voluntary vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 : If it is obvious that refusal to vaccinate causes additional expenses, resulting from the strain on the health care system and economic shutdown, should not those knowingly refusing free vaccinations bear the cost of these losses, which they intentionally caused? ” scientists ask.

In their opinion, the obligation to vaccinate against COVID-19 will protect society and the state against the dangerous effects of the COVID-19 epidemic: numerous deaths of people affected by this disease, excessive deaths of people with other diseases, as well as serious socio-economic consequences resulting from the freezing of the economy.

“It is sad that today we must recall the slogan ‘There is no freedom without solidarity’ and that brotherhood should inevitably accompany freedom” – indicated.

Experts recall that vaccination against COVID-19 has been the subject of extremely rigorous research: in the past, none of the vaccinations used so far has been studied, monitored and commented on so intensely and in detail.

“It is unrealistic and irresponsible in the ongoing fight against the pandemic to continue waiting for a vaccine to be 100% effective against all variants of SARS-CoV-2 and devoid of any post-vaccination reactions. So far, there are no doubts and pseudoscientific theories. the possibility of treating COVID-19 at home, and the prevention of leaving the house is troublesome and very expensive “- the researchers urged.

The chairman of the interdisciplinary advisory team for COVID-19 is the president of the Polish Academy of Sciences, prof. Jerzy Duszyński, and his deputy – prof. Krzysztof Pyrć (Jagiellonian University). The secretary is Dr. Anna Plater-Zyberk (Polish Academy of Sciences). The team also includes researchers of, inter alia, from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, the University of Warsaw, and the Medical University of Gdańsk.