RE: Covid Vaccination Should Be By Choice Not By Force –Sammi Gyamfi Et All

BACKGROUND:

Countries have had to adopt several strategies to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. These measures include social distancing (physical distancing), suspension or modification of working activities, restricted movement and obligatory use of facial masks. Although necessary, these measures have had both direct and indirect negative consequences on national economies and personal health, leading to a rise in mental disorders and unhealthy behaviors (Roma P. et al, 2020).

In 2020, efforts were made across the world to rapidly develop vaccines for COVID-19 (García-Montero et al. 2021). In this process, scientific and medical communities worked together with governmental institutions to produce a vaccine in record time (Garcia-Montero et al. 2021). The COVID-19 vaccination rollout in Ghana encountered challenges at the early stages. Some citizens felt that the vaccine was unsafe, they were not sure of the effects. Others too for cultural, social and religious reasons opposed the vaccination exercise; people were generally uncomfortable.

Unfortunately our dear country is politically polarized to the extent that people listen more often to the opinions of their party people than facts and experts. It is against this backdrop that I find the comments made by other stalwarts and particularly, Sammi Gyamfi, the National Communication’s officer of the NDC as not only unfortunate, but dangerous and has the potential to do great disservice to the good people of this country. For him to posit that, “vaccination must be by choice and not by force. The imposition of compulsory COVID vaccination requirement on all Ghanaians traveling into and out of Ghana by the Ghana health Service is reprehensible and an affront to the 1992 constitution”, is nauseating and an unhealthy position to say the least.

IS COMPULSORY VACCINATION ETHICAL?

Foremost, healthcare, for that matter clinical practice, is guided by both law and ethics. For purposes of education, it is imperative to state that, to consider an action as ethically right or wrong, there is the need to make reference to some basic ethical perspectives in healthcare practice. Using deontology theory, the end result is not the focus but the act or action being taken. In essence, Deontologists are of the view that the rightness of an action does not depend primarily or entirely on the value of the consequences of that action, but rather on the action or intent of the action: whether good or bad. On the other hand is consequentialism or the consequentialist’s perspective of ethics. With consequentialism, the effects of the vaccines administered are that on which premium is placed. The intent to vaccinate may be a good one but if it yields negative consequences then it becomes problematic in the sight of the consequentialist. Explicitly, the primary focus of the consequentialist is the results that will be realized after vaccinating citizens. Thus, experts are of the view that vaccinating citizens will reduce the level of COVID-19 infection, which in turn is expected to lead to a reduction in COVID-19 related deaths and complications.

In addition to the above, another perspective of ethics in healthcare practice is “virtue ethics”. It places emphasis on the character of a person or rests on the person of character. There exists a strong relationship between patients and care professionals. It is on the basis of this perspective that healthcare professionals were among the first sect to have received the vaccines. This was a deliberate policy advocacy strategy. The idea is that, when health care professionals take the vaccine, because they are professionals, citizens will be encouraged to get vaccinated thereby helping the government to achieve its goal of “vaccination for all. Therefore, it is not right and not in the best interest of this country for people to advocate against compulsory vaccination by looking at only one side of the argument.

IS COMPULSORY VACCINATION LEGAL?

The Public Health Act, 2012 (ACT 851), part II (Vaccination), Section 22, subsection (1), gives power to the Minister of Health, through a legislative instrument (LI) to give orders to whoever the LI may be applicable to be vaccinated by the public vaccinator unless in cases where the public vaccinator is of the view that the vaccination could result in injury and dire consequences to the health of the populace. Apart from the reasons supra, all health workers and citizens if ordered by the Minister to be vaccinated, will have no choice than to be vaccinated. Sanctions will be visited upon any professional or citizen who fails to comply with the order according to Section 22; subsection (2). One may argue that the patient charter gives the patient a right, yes that is true, but such demands must be made within the right context. A Patient’s right should not cause other citizens to be exposed to the virus. This position is supported by Chapter five (5), article twelve (12) section two (2) of the 1992 constitution. It does state that, “ every person in Ghana, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinion, color, religion, creed or gender shall be entitled to the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual contained in this chapter but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for public interest”.

CONCLUSION:

The above ethical principles and constitutional provision settle the controversy as to whether the government and for that matter ministry of health through the Ghana health service has the right to issue orders on compulsory vaccination. Ghana health service has the power to do what it did and that is the law. I have always advocated that matters such as education and health must not be toyed with. To say the least, matters of health are not taught in the chop bar or the propaganda classroom, we must all desist from being jacks of all trades, let us stick to the facts and Ghana will be better! For God and Country, Ghana must stand!!!

BY Raphael Kumah Abolasom

ralphkumah4u@gmail.com

Bole-Bamboi

   Comments4