In the setting of this highly polarizing pandemic, where what used to be considered one’s civic and moral duty, caring for the welfare of others, is now considered an outrageous infringement on one’s precious freedom, I will offer my opinion regarding the “vaccine passport” being considered for Northampton.
It has become overwhelming clear over the last two years that appealing to our “better angels,” as well as education and addressing conspiracy theories, has been shockingly ineffective in encouraging people to wear masks, let alone get vaccinated. Mandates on the other hand, have been highly effective.
The argument that we will be hurting our restaurant owners, and the claims, again, of infringement on personal freedom ring hollow when we look at the history of public health measures that have been enacted over the exact same concerns, eg, the smoking ban.
Cities, such as Los Angeles and New York have had vaccine passports in place for months, with a simple QR code scanned quickly on the entrance to an establishment, and overwhelming adherence.
Sure there will be the outliers, just as there are angry people on airplanes who won’t wear a simple mask. We’ve been here before. Again I look at the outrage over the smoking ban, and the outcome is clear: more people will go to a restaurant where they won’t be exposed to dangers to their health.
We have always enforced measures that protect the public. There is nothing particularly controversial about this, but it does require thinking about other’s needs and safety, something that I think we could use a lot more of, but unfortunately can’t be mandated.
Peter Weitzman
Northampton