In Israel, the first concert was held this week with only vaccinated audiences. In many other countries, there is a discussion about opening up communities more quickly with the help of vaccine passes.
The Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst, however, sees a risk in using vaccine passports before everyone has had the opportunity to get vaccinated, it can be discriminatory, he says.
– It goes completely against my view of democracy. Only a few have been given the chance, it is not about a choice, he says to Agenda.
May be intrusive
Kenneth Johansson (C), chairman of the Swedish Medical Ethics Council, is also critical.
– It raises legal issues. This raises questions for the trader who must assess who should be allowed to enter the restaurant and it can often also be a breach of privacy, he says to Agenda.
Minister for Digitalisation Anders Ygeman (S), on the other hand, views a digital vaccination certificate more positively.
– Ultimately, it is the spread of infection that determines how quickly we can open up society, but with this type of vaccination certificate, perhaps we can open up some activities faster than we otherwise did.
Ygeman: A choice
That vaccinated people may have a certain advantage over those who are not vaccinated may be reasonable, according to Ygeman.
– If you choose not to be vaccinated, and there is an increased risk that you spread a disease that is extremely deadly, then you will not be able to do the same things at the same time.
It may not be about a choice. Maybe you are allergic or for other reasons can not take the vaccine?
– We will draw up guidelines for this, but I see in front of me that the same rules are used as for yellow fever or other diseases where we issue vaccination certificates. Namely that you get a certificate that you can not take the vaccine.
Then it will be unvaccinated at these concerts anyway?
– Yes, in that case it might be one in 100,000 or 200,000, says Anders Ygeman.
See the full section of Agenda here.
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