"From Curfews to Dismissals"... Unvaccinated Individuals Struggle Amid Global Pressure for 'Vaccine Mandates'

Countries Implement Mandatory Vaccination Measures... Travel Restrictions and Dismissals for Unvaccinated
Domestic 'Vaccine Pass' Sparks Discrimination Controversy

On the afternoon of the 8th, when the additional vaccination (booster shot) for Janssen vaccine recipients began, a citizen visiting a hospital in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, is receiving a booster shot. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Pressure on unvaccinated individuals against COVID-19 vaccines is increasing worldwide. Governments around the world are taking strong measures to raise vaccination rates.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unvaccinated individuals are five times more likely to be infected with COVID-19 than vaccinated individuals. The risk of death from COVID-19 is ten times higher for the unvaccinated.

As a result, unvaccinated people around the world are facing travel restrictions, bans on going out, and even cases where they are at risk of being fired from their workplaces.

◆ Strengthening 'vaccine mandates' overseas... Cases of dismissal of unvaccinated workers

According to foreign media such as AFP, the Austrian government will restrict the movement of unvaccinated individuals aged 12 and over for ten days starting at midnight on the 15th (local time). Those caught violating the restrictions during surprise inspections will face fines up to 10,450 euros (approximately 1.96 million KRW).

Austria’s vaccination rate stands at only 63.4% of the total population. Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said at a press conference, "Other countries have high vaccination rates. It is shameful that despite having enough vaccines, our vaccination rate is low."

The French government recently announced on the 12th that it will apply similar policies to travelers coming from countries with a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases. Unvaccinated visitors to France must submit a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result issued within 24 hours. The targeted countries include Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, and Greece.

Earlier, the Netherlands also entered a lockdown for three weeks. After lifting most restrictions on September 25, the country reinstated lockdown measures less than two months later due to a surge in cases.

In the city center of The Hague, Netherlands, protesters marched on the 7th (local time) denouncing COVID-19 restrictions. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In the United States, the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate is being enforced.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ordered private businesses with 100 or more employees to complete vaccinations by the 4th. Unvaccinated employees must undergo weekly COVID-19 testing and wear masks during work.

Some states have opposed this decision, leading to conflicts. State governments of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and some companies have filed injunctions to suspend enforcement in court.

However, the Biden administration’s pressure to increase vaccination rates is expected to continue for the time being. This is based on the judgment that lockdown-centered quarantine policies, which negatively impact economic activities, are unsustainable.

Prior to this, major companies have also implemented vaccine mandates. Google, Facebook, Walt Disney, United Airlines, Walmart, and other major corporations have voluntarily mandated vaccinations for their employees, and United Airlines has begun dismissal procedures for unvaccinated workers.

In Singapore, unvaccinated individuals who test positive for COVID-19 are required to pay their own medical expenses. Typically, governments cover treatment costs for new infectious diseases to prevent patients from hiding their infection due to financial concerns. However, this decision appears to be based on the judgment that unvaccinated individuals place a significant burden on the healthcare system. Singapore’s vaccination rate has reached 82%.

◆ Domestic unvaccinated face 'workplace ostracism'... Restricted access to university facilities

Since the phased return to normal life (With COVID-19) began on the 1st of this month in Korea, discrimination issues against unvaccinated individuals related to the 'vaccine pass' have surfaced. The vaccine pass is a system that allows entry to certain facilities only to those who submit proof of vaccination or a negative test result.

This controversy arose recently as some universities applied 'vaccine incentives' that allow only vaccinated individuals or those with a vaccine pass to attend in-person classes or use multiple campus facilities.

At Inha University, only vaccinated individuals can reserve outdoor sports facilities, and at least 80% of users must be vaccinated to use the facilities. Additionally, previously closed computer labs and group study rooms are now open only to vaccinated individuals. Soongsil University also reportedly applied the vaccine pass for entry to in-person classes, libraries, and research labs starting from the 6th of last month.

On the morning of the 11th, citizens are waiting to get tested for COVID-19 at the screening clinic of Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Cases of workplace harassment related to COVID-19 vaccination have also emerged.

According to the civic group Workplace Bullying 119 on the 14th, 80 cases of 'vaccine bullying' were reported from July to this month, with most informants being employees of small and medium-sized enterprises.

According to the reports, vaccine bullying mainly involved not granting vaccine leave, preventing the use of annual leave, or assigning work during vaccine leave. There were also cases of workplace ostracism targeting employees who delayed vaccination due to concerns about side effects or underlying health conditions.

Workplace Bullying 119 pointed out, "Countries like the U.S., Canada, and Italy have introduced vaccine leave systems that allow paid leave after vaccination. In contrast, Korea only 'recommends' paid vaccine leave rather than making it mandatory, so only employees of public institutions or large corporations can comfortably take vaccine leave."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.