When antivaxers endanger others

I respect the decisions of individuals. If I want respect for what I am and do, I owe respect to the rest. If someone wants to believe that the earth is square, it is their right, as well as believing in La Llorona, that the moon is made of cheese, that rock is diabolical or that Mayín [Correa] is a fifteen-year-old, although all of this can be debated writes Ronaldo Rodriguez B in La Prensa.

Such beliefs theoretically harm no one except the reputation of the believer, who usually becomes a fanatic, but it is his reputation, not mine. However, there are wild theories – at least for me – that can harm third parties. I don’t want to get into that discussion because I don’t have the time or space. However, a debate looms about the “right” not to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Whoever does not want to do it is their problem, but in this case, there are consequences –and very serious– for the rest of the population.

 Vaccines have proven highly effective against diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis, polio, tetanus, hepatitis, pneumococcus, human papilloma, influenza, etc. In Panama, the vaccination table for children, adolescents, pregnant women, adults and the elderly is one of the most complete.

Hardly anyone here lacks any of these or other vaccines. And even so, there are those who do not believe in their effectiveness or think that they poison or reduce our immune system, despite the fact that they are the living example of the opposite of their discourse. But what will happen when, having vaccines for all of them, those people reject them?

Last April, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the obligation to receive vaccines does not violate any law on human rights and, in fact, considered its need in a democracy. Similarly, in several European countries there are laws that recognize the right of people to refuse treatment for their illnesses, as long as they do not endanger the rest of the population.

What will the authorities do when the anti-vaccines refuse to be immunized against Covid-19? What will they do when that minority demands their right and the majority demands respect for their health?

 In countries where the vaccination process is close to 100%, your decision not to get vaccinated has been respected, but your right ends where that of the majority begins.

Your rights have been limited in crowded events, in shops, transportation, restaurants, stadiums. If here it is decided to respect the right not to be vaccinated and at the same time measures are adopted to prevent contagion –by law or custom–, will the minority with the right to get sick respect that of the majority to protect themselves? Would you feel

bad if the cigarette law applied to you? “Smoke and get sick yourself, but don’t make the rest sick.” For now, there are no enclosures for the unvaccinated, as for smokers, but over time … Well, I don’t think there will be.