Quebec does not openly say it wants to “piss off” the unvaccinated, according to the wish expressed this week by the French President, Emmanuel Macron, but it is just like.
Thursday’s announcements by the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, will block, within a few weeks and almost completely, access to “normal” social life for people who have not received three doses of vaccines . No more non-essential businesses, including SAQ and SQDC branches as of January 18, such as access to restaurants or to performance and sports halls was already prohibited without a vaccine passport.
On the other hand, the stage of compulsory vaccination does not yet appear in the government’s plans. However, voices are rising to demand it, including that of the President and CEO of the Council for the Protection of the Sick of Quebec.
“Article 123 of the Public Health Law says that the state, in a situation of health crisis, can order the vaccination of all citizens,” said Mr.e Paul G. Brunet. He is also chairman of the board of directors of the organization, but this body has not yet pronounced on the delicate ethical subject of the immune obligation. “I understand that in a democratic society, we are careful. But we can make this speech, even in court, asking that everyone be vaccinated. This is my position. “
The option is gaining favor here as elsewhere. Austria will apply this measure from 1er February for citizens over 14 years with a fine of 3600 euros for recalcitrant. Ecuador and Indonesia have already taken this step. The Czech Republic, Greece and Italy impose it on the elderly (aged 50 or 60 depending on the country).
The former Prime Minister of France, Édouard Philippe, spoke openly on Wednesday for compulsory vaccination. He also supported the idea behind President Macron’s declaration to “piss off the 8 to 10% who refuse to be vaccinated” and said he believed that “a good majority of French people” agree with this option as well.
Ethical questions
“I understand that it would be nice to say to piss them off, but I think the first objective is to limit contacts,” Minister Dubé replied to a question evoking the vulgar French formulation. The second objective is to protect them from themselves. At the moment, more than 50% of intensive care beds are occupied by unvaccinated people while they represent only 10% of the population.
The government’s chief advisor on ethical issues finds the gradualist approach acceptable. “I think I was the first to propose the extension of the vaccination passport in this new phase of the pandemic,” says Jocelyn Maclure, professor of philosophy at McGill and chairman of the Commission for Ethics in Science and Technology of the Quebec. It is a measure that is well justified. It notes that the contribution of the unvaccinated to this state of crisis is significant. “
Mr. Maclure adds that the restrictions seem more acceptable for situations where there is a risk of transmission, in certain closed workplaces in particular. “When it comes to the SAQ, it’s more of a logic that is both incentive and punitive,” he continues. I don’t like this option. It is part of an almost revengeful conception of justice. It is this aspect that I do not like. There is popular discontent, and I understand it. But this is not necessarily a good basis for making political decisions. “
The option of compulsory vaccination seemed to him even more problematic. What does it mean by the way? A surcharge or a fine for the unvaccinated, often culturally and financially deprived? “Nobody thinks of forcing the injections,” said the philosopher. I understand the frustration, the impatience. But at the end of the day, we are dealing with fellow citizens, and we have to ask ourselves how far we want to go in terms of extremely harsh and punitive and ruthless measures. […] You have to make decisions that are effective and proportionate. “
Frustrating stubbornness
Quebec has approximately 2,000 hospitalized patients suffering from COVID-19 (some admitted for other illnesses). The forecast released Thursday envisions an increase to 3,000 cases of patients in acute beds and about 400 others in intensive care by mid-January. This would exceed the limits of the hospital system, which must also cope with this increase in patients with fewer and fewer staff. About 20,000 healthcare professionals are currently on sick leave.
The Dr Laurie Robichaud is at the front. She politely confides in having her lab coat full of the unvaccinated, even though all patients are entitled to her good care in the emergency department of the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.
“I took an oath to treat everyone,” she said. I always joke that I never judge. On the other hand, it is certain that my role is also to educate my patients. On this part, yes, I admit, it gets frustrating when I realize that the arguments of some for not getting vaccinated are scientifically unfounded, illogical, from inappropriate sources. What is most frustrating, in fact, is the unbelievable stubbornness of the unvaccinated. It became pride at that point. “
Stubbornness has consequences for everyone, such as the behavior of vaccinated “covidiots” who do not comply with health instructions here or in a plane to the South. Except that the consequences are immense on the capacity of the hospital network to play its role with tragic dilemmas for caregivers.
“We’re human like everyone else,” says the DD Robichaud. People are tired and anxious. It’s hard to keep a cool head, polite, always. We are frustrated by the situation. We are frustrated by the numerous overflows. Right now, the fight is underway everywhere in Quebec to try to avoid service breakdowns, which unfortunately will be inevitable in so many centers. “
She adds that now the most severely and quickly attacked emergency patients are almost all unvaccinated. “We can clearly see a benefit from vaccination: yes, some with triple doses are hospitalized, but for the most part they do not need invasive ventilation or critical care. “
That said, the categorical imperative of his job requires treating “everyone” and prioritizing care according to the severity of the conditions. There is therefore never ever a question of favoring a vaccinated patient over another who is not. Laurie Robichaud even offers a powerful allegory to fully understand this issue.
“If a delinquent murders two people, drinks a bottle of vodka, gets behind the wheel and kills a family in an accident, arrives at the hospital badly injured, he is the one I have to deal with first as a doctor. Am I exaggerating? I just want to show that we don’t have so much choice right now to take care of even unvaccinated COVID cases that come to us with low saturation, very banged up. I understand that for society it is frustrating. For us too. But my role does not change. “