I spoke in recent days with two women who feel strongly that they do not want the COVID-19 vaccination. One works in construction, the other as a teacher. Both are likely to get vaccinated – under duress – because they cannot afford to lose their jobs. The JobSeeker payment wouldn’t cover their rent.
I have had the first jab of Pfizer and am waiting for the second. I am happy to follow the medical evidence, which tells us that the health risks from COVID vaccination are extremely low, and the social benefits high. The vast majority of Australians appear to agree. We are on track to vaccinate 80 per cent of the population aged 16 and over by year’s end,But there’s a huge difference between vaccinating the willing and coercing the unwilling into vaccinations by threatening their livelihoods.
Overriding this autonomy with coercive threats to livelihood would need to meet a very high bar for justification. Health experts remain uncertain about what percentage of the population needs to be vaccinated to provide herd immunity. Some think it is impossible.. On the WHO advice alone, mandatory vaccinations would seem premature.