Minister of Public Health, Labor and Social Development VSA Omar Ottley during Wednesday’s press briefing reported on a pilot activity at which only vaccinated or recently-tested persons were allowed. Perhaps it could have been better advertised – not so much to get more people but as warning to the public, because a wrong impression, especially in today’s social media, is easily created.
The minister said the experiment went well and plans to, in cooperation with his colleague of Justice, make this the standard when issuing permits for these types of events. It is certainly an interesting approach, although not without controversy.
Some might consider admittance policies based on a vaccination that is supposed to be non-compulsory wrong. However, others may still enter if they take a test.
The prevailing thought internationally is that once such a readily available alternative exists, there is no question of discrimination.
The same is the case for employees. A business – for example, in the hospitality sector where there is a lot of close contact with clients – can offer its personnel incentives to vaccinate, but cannot force them to do so. However, those who refuse will probably be required to undergo frequent testing as protection for both staff and customers.
Individual liberties are obviously important, but so is the general interest. As they say, one man’s freedom ends where another’s begins.
