Graphic by Yujin Kim/The Choate News
Pitman prefects use a “punishment jar” to motivate recalcitrant third formers — myself included — to comply with dorm regulations. During nightly prefect inspections, failure to clean your room or to check-in via Reach means reaching into a small cup with little paper slips to select one of the many possible penalties, including losing cell phone privileges during the study break and early lights out. While we use a punishment jar in Pitman to deal with infractions, Quebec’s unvaccinated citizens face their own version of a punishment jar. Only in this case, the anti-vaxxers will need to put their own money in the jar. That is, unvaccinated residents of the Canadian province of Quebec will soon face a significant financial penalty, violating Quebbecans’ independence.
Today, roughly 10% of residents of Quebec remain unvaccinated. Vaccination is the best step towards ending this pandemic or, for now, lessening its deadly effects on communities. But, financially penalizing unvaccinated residents isn’t the best way to increase vaccination rates.
By financially penalizing the unvaccinated, Canada is directly infringing on the autonomy of its residents. Quebec should take certain measures to ensure the health and safety of vaccinated residents and healthcare workers directly impacted by the poor decisions of those who refuse the vaccine. At this moment, Quebec’s decision crosses a line for many people. Some people are uncomfortable with receiving vaccines because the technology is still relatively new and its long-term effects are largely unclear. Residents deserve the ability to refuse vaccination, but they should be restricted from interacting with society in the ways that vaccinated people can.
Many who refuse to receive the vaccine tend to distrust the government and public healthcare system, and such a penalty could backfire, resulting in more distrust of the system. The government is able to limit what unvaccinated residents can do by requiring vaccination records before participating in public life such as utilizing public transportation or entering movie theaters. A punishment jar for the unvaccinated should not be necessary.
Other countries use more severe measures to enforce vaccine compliance. For example, Singapore requires unvaccinated patients hospitalized with Covid-19 to pay their medical bills. This requirement to pay medical bills ensures the unvaccinated don’t overburden the healthcare system. Quebec may have gotten its idea from Greece, who, at the beginning of 2022, imposed a fine of 100 Euros ($113 USD) on its citizens for each month that they remain unvaccinated. While we don’t yet know the details on how much Quebec is planning to fine its unvaccinated residents or the regularity in which they will be fined, Premier Francois Legault has set his hopes on a seemingly larger amount.
Many argue that when a patient enters a healthcare system, their medical record and choices shouldn’t reflect how they are treated. But, according to NPR, 50% of the people filling Canada’s intensive care units are individuals who have chosen not to be vaccinated. This has very adverse effects on the healthcare system in Canada, which is currently overloaded. Residents in Canada are paying for a healthcare system via taxes, yet many of its resources are going to patients who have chosen to impose consequential risks upon their community by not getting vaccinated. Something needs to be done, but financially depleting citizens is not the solution. Restricting access to bars, restaurants, community centers, and other local places that aren’t of necessity is enough of a punishment for those who aren’t vaccinated.
Even without a financial penalty, the punishment jar has motivated some counter-productive changes in behavior. Residents of Quebec should simply get vaccinated to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Keeping themselves, loved ones, and healthcare workers safe — and avoiding the fines imposed by Quebec’s government.
