Enmerder

A few days ago, French President Emmanuel Macron promised to “enmerder” (piss off or make life difficult for) unvaccinated and vaccine hesitant French citizens who are jeopardizing the lives of many by refusing to vaccinate against the Covid-19 virus. 

He promised to prohibit entry into any public space by those who did not have proof of being fully vaccinated. This raised the ire of some in his political opposition who objected to the language he used  but after a couple of turbulent days,, the bill passed with a large majority to 214 to 93 with 27 abstentions. 

Is Macron right?

I believe that he is.

The pandemic has killed millions, infected tens of millions, and affected the livelihood and lives of billions around the world. It has produced anxiety among many and division and frustration against those who despite the deaths and climbing infection rates still refuse to get vaccinated. 

Some unvaccinated posit that the pandemic is a hoax and not to be taken seriously. They refuse to wear masks, take precautions, and follow scientifically developed guidelines. These non-vaxers are not content to refuse vaccines but enjoy protesting in public and enticing others to avoid the jab.

Regardless of vaccination status, many still refuse to adhere to social distancing rules.

Just last week a group of Canadians on a charter flight to Cancun drank and partied on board with no regard for masking or trying to maintain social distancing. Since then, some Canadian airlines have understandably refused to transport them back home. They will likely face legal charges when they return to Canada.

We see how unvaccinated victims of Covid-19 now make up a good majority of all hospitalized Covid-19 patients in most countries. This prevents other patients with non-covid related ailments from undergoing treatment and surgery due to lack of hospital beds. As well, medical staff in many places have been overwhelmed over the past two years and are suffering from severe stress.

I believe that unvaccinated infected people should have to pay the full cost of their treatment since their infection is due to their own obstinacy and their conscious choice to ignore the urgings of health authorities and their elected officials. As with the travelers on the Canadian charter flight, there are consequences for our actions. Leaders who encourage people not to vaccinate should also be held to account for endangering the public.

Social media has begun to identify fake news about Covid-19 and to sanction some of those who peddle unfounded conspiracy theories on their sites. This is a good beginning. Television and radio broadcasters should also be taken to task 

With the rapid spread of Omicron and after twenty-one months of Covid-19, the time has come for more aggressive actions to deal with unvaccinated people gathering in public places, using public transportation, shopping, going to school or work, or attending entertainment facilities.

This requires strong measures against those who refuse to mask and those who encourage others not to mask.

The virus will not go away any time soon. Vaccinations and caution are the only tools that we have, and legal penalties and limitations of movement may well be the best way to obtain compliance.

As illustrated by Mr. Macron, it appears that leaders are ready to now take a harder line to protect the interests of the majority by acknowledging that perhaps the best way to get the hard core unvaccinated to yield will require a more forceful approach.

The decision last week by the Australian government to prevent entry into the country by tennis star Novak Djokovic for not being duly vaccinated or having a valid medical exemption is another step in the right direction and sends a strong message in this regard. Mr. Djokovic has been a vocal critic against mandatory vaccinations who has likely influenced many of his fans with his actions.

Clearly the Australian government decided that there can be no exceptions. Otherwise, what message does this send to all those Australians who put up with the many lockdowns and restrictions on their movement for the greater good? Already another tennis player has had to leave Australia, and others are being investigated as to the bona fides of their Covid-19 documentation.

At the time of writing, Djokovic’s appeal to the courts was successful. It remains to be seen if the Australian government will appeal the judge’s decision given the political capital it has invested to date. 

The Australian government, like President Macron, is right.

We are all in this together, and we must all balance personal freedoms with our civic responsibility if we are to end this pandemic and reclaim a semblance of normality.

Keep reading: 2022 – Keep Hope Alive

Edición: Laura Espejo