What are vaccine passports?
Proof – vaccine passports are documents which prove that you have had your vaccine against certain diseases, such as COVID-19
Usage – they have been introduced in order to restore international travel for citizens who have been vaccinated
History – in certain places, they have been in place for a long time, for vaccines like the one against yellow fever
The pros
Safety – the safety of the public when returning back to the pre-pandemic activities
Encourage vaccine uptake – Vaccine Passports could increase vaccine uptake
Protect the NHS – through awareness-raising campaigns and policies
Prevent the spread– through raising awareness, social media, peer support
The cons
Patient Autonomy – patients are responsible for their own informed choices
Boundaries – could these be socioeconomic, cultural or even medical
Exceptions – what about the patients who are contraindicated to get the vaccine?
Accessibility – do all people have access to vaccines or will this just increase inequalities?
Situation
To what extent would mandatory vaccine passports, say nightclub entry, curtail personal autonomy?
Approaching the question
Take a moment to think – gather your ideas before starting your answer in order to deliver a well-structured piece
Take both perspectives – try not to focus on the positives/negatives only but provide an overall view of both sides
Give examples– demonstrate your insight into medicine by linking your arguments to meaningful examples
Have a comprehensive conclusion - sum up all the arguments you have mentioned in a professional manner
Key points
1. Do your research – ensure you are comfortable with the topic of Vaccine Passports
2. Try to keep a neutral view – do not let your own biases cloud your judgement
3. Always have the Ethical Principles in mind – this will allow you to structure your answer and cover breadth of knowledge
4. Read around the topic – you can use our website www.TheAspiringMedics.co.uk