Physicians group head says vaccination day might unfairly discriminate

Vaccination day, as foreshadowed by Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis as a means of rewarding vaccinated individuals, could unfairly discriminate against those who choose not to take the jab, according to Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA) President Dr. Sabriquet Pinder-Butler.

“Some persons in country perhaps feel that they can potentially be victimized if they don’t receive the vaccine and things along that line, especially when we talk about certain incentives or certain things that might be perceived as penalties for persons who don’t receive the vaccine related to traveling, related to potential job stability – those types of things,” Pinder-Butler said.

“So, sometimes it’s a little tricky when you start aligning vaccines with these types of initiatives or things that could be punitive or appear to be punitive.”

The Bahamas started administering the vaccine in March.

Seventy-five thousand, two hundred and forty-six doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were administered as of June 19, according to the Ministry of Health.

Of that figure, more than 25,000 were second doses.

On June 11, Minnis announced a vaccination day where fully vaccinated individuals can enjoy activities that are currently prohibited, including happy hours at restaurants and bars.

He also suggested that the curfew could be adjusted for vaccinated individuals.

Pinder-Butler said individuals who make the choice not to get vaccinated should not be restricted from certain things.

“I think that we just have to be careful with what we use to incentivize the vaccine rollout, especially when there are things that can potentially appear to be discriminatory among our people and, at this time, I don’t think that, that would be good,” she said.

Pinder-Butler added, “It could be perceived that if you receive a vaccine and we are able to celebrate you today and you’re able to have certain things done that others perhaps should be able to have done maybe in different settings. But if we’re all practicing the measures that we continue to promote, I think that we should just be fair across the board.”

She said caution needs to be exercised with the messages being sent regarding vaccination.

On Thursday, Minister of Health Renward Wells said he believes 30 percent of the population in The Bahamas can be vaccinated against COVID-19 before September.

Asked if she believes this is possible, Butler-Pinder said, “I think that from what we are seeing with trends in vaccines in general, a lot of places are actually seeing a decline in the uptake in vaccines and that might have been one of the reasons for the consideration of the vaccine day. I’m not sure. I’m not in those circles to know what the thoughts are around that. But, you know, I don’t know if from what we’ve seen so far if that will be attained.

“Certainly, anything is possible, I will say that, but I can’t say that it would be something I would be able to completely say that, that can happen. I’m not sure what tools he is using, what objective markers – perhaps that they would have at the ministry – to say that they will be able to reach that mark.”

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/physicians-group-head-says-vaccination-day-might-unfairly-discriminate/