Mandatory vaccination policy should be carefully formulated, says group

 By Olivia Miwil - December 21, 2021 @ 9:47am

A medical officer administers Covid-19 booster shot at Dewan Pintar Taman Guar Perahu, Penanti. - NSTP/DANIAL SAAD

KOTA KINABALU: Any mandatory vaccination policy must be carefully formulated to avoid discrimination, said Sabah Law Society president Roger Chin.

"Mandatory vaccination interferes with privacy but may be necessary to safeguard public health.

"However, the government must consider all relevant factors and ensure such policies do not place disproportionate burdens on those hesitant about vaccination.

"Not everyone can be vaccinated against Covid-19.

"People with specific allergies should not be given certain vaccines, and we have insufficient data on whether current vaccines are safe for children, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems, including people with human immunodeficiency viruses," he said in a statement.

Chin added that distrust over vaccination is common among ethnic minorities and marginalised groups, which may have good reason, at least from a historical perspective, to doubt public authorities and the healthcare system.

"Of greatest concern to the wary is fear of side effects and vaccinations may be a threat to their health.

"The unprecedented rapid development and approval of Covid-19 vaccines seems to have led larger groups to hesitate," he added.

Hence, he said the government needs to ensure education campaigns reach these groups and enable their members to make informed vaccination choices.