Hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens who have opted not to be vaccinated are knowingly putting their lives, the lives of their children and relatives, and public health in danger. If they cannot be convinced to behave like civilized people, it is appropriate to stop them from harming the responsible, rational majority by identifying them and allowing that same majority to protect itself against their irresponsibility, even when the pandemic is over.
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Of course, we aren't talking about the people who cannot be vaccinated for valid medical reasons. Teens who aren't vaccinated should also enjoy the benefit of the doubt – maybe being the children of irresponsible parents is punishment enough. We know there are a few other unusual cases and special groups, but after all these have been taken into account, it's important to allow society to protect itself.
First of all, the facts that are beyond the manipulative, propaganda-propelled nonsense: COVID-19 is a serious, lethal illness; its social and economic ramifications are destruction; the vaccine is very effective and carries negligible risks, and people who haven't been vaccinated infect significantly more (apparently 6.5 times as many) people than the vaccinated. The hardcore "experts" are charlatans. Quotes from the serious experts have been taken completely out of context. Opinions that are not accepted among the mainstream must also be heard, and reliable information about the effects of the vaccine must dictate decisions by the medical and political professionals who make decisions.
After all reservations have been heard, the government must adopt a determined policy. The core of this policy must be a demand that public officials – employees of the government, local authorities, and government companies, including and especially healthcare and school workers – be vaccinated or resign.
Passengers on public transportation must show proof of vaccination in order to board. Citizens have no choice but to use these services, and they must not hinge on people's willingness to risk a potentially lethal infection. The government is not allowed to expose its citizens to danger or put their lives and health at risk because a deluded, irresponsible minority takes the law into their own hands. Private companies should also be encouraged to adopt a similar policy, allowing citizens concerned for their health and the health of their children to choose to use the services of a company that shares their concern. There is no reason why the public should pay for the hospitalization of those who refuse the vaccine and bring the disease on themselves due to their own stubbornness. Medical treatment – yes, the public shouldering the cost of it – no.
Apart from efforts by the government, there is room for civil initiatives. Non-governmental bodies can collect information about who has been vaccinated and who hasn't, and make that data available to the public. Anyone who proves they are vaccinated will be deleted from the database. This way, everyone can opt to avoid contact with anti-vaxxers, protecting the lives and health of their loved ones. Information about business owners who refuse to be vaccinated will help customers decide whether or not to patronize their shops. Anyone looking for workers can exercise a preference about who will serve their customers. Even after the pandemic ends, the public can judge which group is more likely to make irrational decisions and ignore the needs of other people.
We can expect an outcry form the purists. They will scream about privacy being stripped and democracy being destroyed. But privacy ends when the individual threatens and causes serious harm to others. Even if a person who drowns while swimming at an unauthorized beach does so on their own responsibility, when they pull children and passers-by into the water with them, they can't hide behind a shield of "privacy."
At the heart of democracy lies the individual's right to organize in an agreed-upon way to defend their vital needs. Therefore, they give their elected officials the authority to lawfully attack the choice of anyone who endangers the public and its well-being: to imprison murderers, pedophiles, and even inciters, or forcibly hospitalize mental patients who pose a danger to others. They even give elected officials the authority to limit their liberty and harm the privacy of their best sons and daughters, whom they dearly love, by conscripting them for military service.
A democracy may defend itself against those who threaten public health and do serious harm to its economy as well as its future. Human rights do not include the right to infect others or become infected.
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