Devastating consequences of healthcare workers quitting over Vaccination Mandates.

Vaccination mandates are the requirement that says you must be vaccinated to do certain things like working, traveling, or even attending a concert.Vaccination mandates are not a new concept, there have been instances in the past, where government have resorted to such initiatives, to get a hold on an outbreak, e.g. measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. Though, it targets for the speedy containment of the outbreak, but government cannot legally force it on people. From this perspective, healthcare workers, indeed come under the blanket cover of “Bodily integrity and personal autonomy”, The grave situation risen out of it, as masses of healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, practitioners etc choose to opt out of their respective jobs, than to consider getting vaccinated, probably because of their first hand experience in healthcare industry and deep rooted fears against COVID-19 vaccines in particular, or to simply put, they are extremely exhausted, the consequences of which is to be burnt by already socially disadvantaged sections of the society. This will further result in domino effect across all countries, states, cities, towns and rural areas, where healthcare is already in shambles.

These individuals or groups, at the helm of getting disparate healthcare services due to reasons of economic resources, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and disability, will be pushed to face increased discrimination with already limited healthcare facilities. Their trust in healthcare can further reduce and there are increasing chances of their inclination to resort towards illegal and non-medical practices of healthcare or getting entangled under various quacks that will come to fore, for financial benefits. Public mistrust for COVID-19 vaccines will rapidly grow, as healthcare workers are themselves opting out of it, this can in turn jolt all the efforts made to run a successful vaccination drive.

The disease burden among the socially disadvantaged sections can further increase significantly. The overall goal of outbreak containment and healthcare equity will be further delayed. Governments should take initiatives to rule out the doubts or suppress the fake news propagation against various side effects from COVID-19 vaccine, and make the data regarding above, publicly accessible. The principle, “right to health” is also an important human right, i.e. to attain the highest possible standards of health. Governments should pitch in to remind the healthcare workers, that they took up the oath to heal and prioritise the wounded and sick first, it might sound cliched and harsh in present overwhelming times, but this the reason, why we equate healthcare workers with Godly entity, and respect them immensely. Furthermore, Goverments should work on enhancing the healthcare budgets. Providing various incentives for our healthcare workers, who are providing their round-the-clock services and putting their hard work in this grueling pandemic.

It’s worth noting, that why our healthcare workers are suspicious of the vaccine, even though they are treating these COVID-19 patients, Government should focus on making this a priority agenda, than maligning the situation in political debates. This isn't a situation and subject to pull and stretch, for political motives. The healthcare facilities are already dealing with the systematic issues, now in wake of the current situation, hiring new staff and training them is impractical. Agencies involved in hiring temporary staff, have significantly skyrocketed their prices, demand is too high. 

In the end, accommodations can be made on various ground, if its person's long held religious beliefs, or certain medical grounds, and not because of any political affiliations; exerting right to choice on your body, when that choice effects others in the society as well, is not a rational way to go about it. As society, we do abide by laws for its smooth functioning. If its purely lack of trust regarding COVID-19 vaccine, reason citing, as its approval were the fastest in the history of any new vaccines when someone is not in opposition with other vaccines, then it's Governments job to put this trust back.

                                                 Take care, Be Safe.