Vaccine mandates are justifiable on multiple levels, based on the common good and a public health ethics framework, argues Keymanthri Moodley.
In recent months, the question of mandatory Covid-19 vaccination or limitations on those who choose not to be vaccinated has become a hot topic. In many countries, healthcare professionals and care home workers in facilities for the aged or disabled must be vaccinated as an occupational requirement. They are duty bound to accept a vaccine because of their non-negotiable pledge to avoid harm to patients, colleagues and their own families.
Less attractive measures are being implemented in other settings, such as weekly Covid-19 testing for the unvaccinated. Some countries are restricting access to venues like cinemas, nightclubs, concert halls and indoor restaurants. South Africa, too, is grappling with the question of vaccine mandates. As a bioethicist, I have no doubt: ethically, vaccine mandates are justifiable on multiple levels, based on the common good and a public health ethics framework.
These principles are reflected in Section 36 of the South African Constitution, which deals with the limitation of rights. The National Health Act No. 61 of 2003 also applies – it contains regulations relating to notifiable medical conditions. So too does the Disaster Management Act. The South African Bill of Rights specifies that any limitation must be “reasonable and justifiable in an open and democratic society based on human dignity, equality and freedom”. It also requires that the restriction be proportional to the purpose of the limitation. So the bigger the risk to public health, the larger the restriction may be on individual rights.
It is clear that, based on its existing legal framework, South Africa can legitimately introduce a mandatory vaccination policy for specific occupational environments and leisure activities.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Covid-19 update: SA records 13,921 new cases and 384 deathsThe coronavirus pandemic has killed at least 4,333,013 people worldwide since the virus first emerged in late 2019, according to an AFP compilation of official data.
Read more »
SA records nearly 14,000 new Covid-19 cases, 380 deaths in 24 hoursSA recorded 13,921 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, again driven by infections in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
Read more »
Volkswagen SA opens Covid-19 vaccination centre in Eastern CapeVolkswagen Group South Africa in Kariega has opened a Covid-19 vaccination centre in the Eastern Cape.
Read more »
Covid-19 update: SA records 14,271 and 473 deathsThis takes the cumulative number of confirmed laboratory cases to 2.568, 511, which represents a 22.5% positivity rate.
Read more »
LIVE | Covid-19 in SA: 13 921 new cases, 384 more deaths | News24COVID-19 | New infections: 13 921, new fatalities: 384, new vaccinations: 153 999. Total vaccinations 9 339 755. The death toll is 76 631
Read more »
Covid-19 update: SA records 14,271 new cases and 473 deathsThis takes the cumulative number of confirmed laboratory cases to 2.568, 511, which represents a 22.5% positivity rate.
Read more »