Only about a third of French people said they would get the coronavirus vaccine, according to a survey conducted by Euronews in October. 63% of Britons said they would get the vaccine, followed by 57% of Germans and 55% of Italians. Meanwhile, more than 40% of Spaniards would prefer not to be vaccinated at all with approved medicines, according to another survey by the Center for Social Research in Spain.
This raises a dilemma for governments: Given the fact that the effectiveness of a vaccine depends on a high percentage of people who get it, what happens if a large number of the population refuses?
Are there ways to get people to get the vaccine?
Miquel Morales Sabalete, a partner of the law firm AGM Abogados, told Euronews that in Spain it is possible to force people to get the vaccine, although mandatory medical treatment or examination may affect the fundamental rights set out in the country's constitution. . The vaccine may be made compulsory under the Organic Law on Public Health, which stipulates that health authorities "shall be able to approve measures for examination, treatment, hospitalization or control when there is evidence of a risk to the health of the population for due to the health condition of a person or a group of people, or from the activities performed ”.
So if health authorities say the pandemic justifies it, there does not appear to be any legal impediment to making the vaccine mandatory.
Italy has not yet decided whether to make the vaccine mandatory. "There is no instruction to make the vaccine mandatory, but we recommend it," said Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte. Health Minister Roberto Speranza added: "I think with conviction and a real campaign we can achieve herd immunity without coercion, but it is clear that we need to achieve immunity."
In France, President Emmanuel Macron has been adamant that the vaccine will not be mandatory. "Immunity must be achieved in a clear and transparent manner, sharing all the information at every step - what we know and what we do not know. I also want to be clear. There will be no compulsory vaccination," he said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "No one will be forced to get the vaccine, it is a voluntary decision." British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that although he "strongly urges people" to be vaccinated, "there will be no compulsory vaccination, this is not the way we do things in this country".
Can private businesses force people to get vaccinated before using their services?
It is thought that private companies will not have the legal power to make the vaccine mandatory, but certain sectors may apply this decision, due to the risk of transmitting the virus to groups, such as asylum workers.
Source: Euronews
