As the world struggles to fight the virus, should the COVID-19 vaccine be a matter of choice?
People should be able to exercise fundamental rights freely and without fear. Fundamental freedoms are not absolute and subject to limitations. They are called reasonable restrictions that are provided in the Constitution itself. However, such freedoms should also, necessarily, be read with common sense. Vaccination complacency, a growing menace in the world, is a case in point. Millions of people are out there, unwilling to get vaccinated, claiming it is a matter of choice and that forcing them to get the vaccine infringes on their right to privacy and freedom of life. The world has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by coming out with vaccines. Now it will have to come out with a common sense movement against complacency. One of the world’s prominent individuals who does not want to answer if he is vaccinated is tennis ace Novak Djokovic. He is willing to protect his right to privacy even if it endangers his participation in the Australian Open 2022 scheduled for next January. Djokovic’s logic is that whether vaccinated or not, strict regulations at the Australian Open insist on automatic quarantine for all for 14 days. “Doesn’t really matter whether it’s vaccination or anything else in life. You should have the freedom to choose, to decide what you want to do. In this particular case, what you want to put in your body.” Tennis player Nick Kyrgios, though double vaccinated, backed Djokovic. But Australian Open chief Craig Tiley confirmed that those who participate in the tournament need to be fully vaccinated. Former tennis legend Boris Becker played both sides, backing Djokovic’s “choice” but insisting that as a tennis player he will have to follow rules. Australia’s strict regulations are there for a reason. Victoria, where the tournament is held, is the hardest-hit State in Australia and accounts for 1,268 deaths out of the country's total of 1,922 and 109,000 of 194,000 overall cases.
Public figures, like Djokovic, have the power to influence public actions. More and more anti-vaccine enthusiasts in Europe are quoting him to defend their choice. Unrest is on the rise in Europe as we speak because Governments are coming down on people who refuse to get vaccinated. COVID-19 lockdowns are making a return to ensure full vaccination. Greece, for instance, says nine out of 10 patients in hospitals are unvaccinated as of date. In Austria and The Netherlands, the protests spilled out into the streets. People in Switzerland, Croatia and Italy are also protesting the tough restrictions that target the unvaccinated. India has its own share of such people who slow down the vaccination process. Civic authorities, like in Aligarh, are making vaccination mandatory for lofting monthly from the PDS shops. They are setting up inoculation facilities at these shops to make it easier for the people to get their jabs. Things should not be coming to this in a rational world.
