“Fixed for refusal of vaccination” …’vaccine whip’ wielded by the Vatican

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 22nd (local time) that more and more countries are imposing various penalties if they refuse to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. In order to secure collective immunity, at least 70% of the people must be vaccinated, and many of them avoid vaccination.

On January 13, at the Presidential Palace in Indonesia, President Joko Widodo is getting the Corona 19 vaccine. [신화통신=연합뉴스]

Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, has decided to face fines of up to Rp 5 million (400,000 won) for refusing to be vaccinated. One-quarter of new confirmed cases in Indonesia come from this region, due to the low vaccination rate.

Previously, the Indonesian government stopped providing social subsidies to those who refused to receive vaccinations and restricted the use of public services. Lieutenant Governor Ahmed Liza Patria said, “The low vaccination rate has forced us to use the last resort of fines.”

The Vatican Vatican has issued a guideline that an employee who refuses to be vaccinated for no reason can be fired. The reason is that if you don’t get the vaccine, you can endanger others. Accordingly, there was a backlash among employees that it violated the’spirit of mercy’ emphasized by Pope Francis, but the Papal Office published an explanatory material that “a measure to balance the health of all employees and freedom of choice.”

Pope Francis presides over Mass on demand. [로이터=연합뉴스]

In the UK, which is striving to increase the vaccination rate against the spread of the mutant virus, there is even an atmosphere of’No Jab No Job’ (No Jab No Job).

Last week, Pimlico Plumber, a plumbing repair company in London, announced that it would only offer interviews to job seekers who provided proof of vaccination. The reason for the company is that “employees have an obligation to ensure that they are not exposed to risks.” In addition, British Justice Minister Robert Buckland said, “A company’s vaccination request may be legitimate.”

In December last year, passengers wearing masks are moving at Frankfurt International Airport in Germany. [AFP=연합뉴스]

There is also controversy around this movement. Uthman Hamid, director of Amnesty International’s Indonesian branch, pointed out that “the act of obligating full vaccination, including criminal punishment, is a clear human rights violation.”

“Persuasion is more effective in public health than forced action in public health,” said Dr. Ranit Mishori of the American NGO’Doctors for Human Rights’. “The elaborate response to the reason people hesitate to get the vaccine and the psychological anxiety “I need this.”

Reporter Lee Min-jung [email protected]