I
Fight against the Covid-19 pandemic is the priority of the Cabinet of Ministers and Saeima. An efficient way to limit the spread of virus is mass vaccination of population.
Vaccine will not prevent everyone from contracting the virus, but it will first and foremost reduce the risk of infection; secondly, in case of infection it will almost always lead to less severe complications and save from death; thirdly, vaccination will significantly reduce the risk of infecting others.
Vaccination policies must facilitate the highest possible level of voluntary vaccination nationwide. Members of the parliament, Cabinet of Ministers, employees of public and local authorities and, of course, President of Latvia have the duty to lead by example and get vaccinated.
With best interests of the population in mind, Saeima must agree on a common approach and vaccination policy to contain Covid-19.
National policy must be flexible. It must consider the rate of new cases and level of public health threats, most recent scientific findings and experience in Europe and elsewhere. One of the key factors to consider is how fickle the virus is. Decisions of the parliament and the cabinet must factor in changes that occur constantly.
Saeima must therefore adopt a legal framework allowing Cabinet of Ministers to adjust regulatory requirements to contain the spread of the virus and protect the public health.
Containment of Covid-19 pandemic and broadest possible vaccination coverage are in the best interests of all people. A dialogue on the best ways of achieving them is essential.
However, such debate must be based solely on rational arguments. Vaccination is not a matter of faith, philosophy or beliefs. It is a about specific, applicable solutions for health and safety of the public. Such is the approach supported by the majority of Latvian population.
Political games, attempts to take advantage of the lack of knowledge, stigma and conspiracy theories are to be considered a direct threat to human health and life.
However, creating a respectful dialogue with minority sceptical about vaccination is essential. There is a lot of confusing and contradicting data about Covid-19 being circulated through local media outlets. Information which is not supported by reliable and competent scientific sources. Public sector and society must help to guide people through this information maze and separate the wheat from the chaff.
We are not against each other; we are all part of the Latvian nation.
II
Here are the principles that I think are important for Covid-19 containment and vaccination policy:
1. Vaccination has been and must remain voluntary.
2. Infection risks can be adequately reduced by regulating the events and services that are available only to those with compatible certificates (issued to individuals who are vaccinated, have recovered from Covid-19 or where appropriate have been recently tested negative). The same approach should apply to other restrictions designed to protect public health.
3. Satversme (Constitution of Latvia) and European Convention on Human Rights do not prohibit proportional measures for reduction of infection risks. Proportionality assessment must consider the fact that vaccine lowers the individual and collective risks and therefore vaccinated persons can be subjected to less restrictive requirements.
4. Cabinet of Ministers should be given a legal mandate to introduce centralised nationwide rules for specific professions (such as social workers taking care of high-risk groups, medical workers, teachers and others) or public venues (for example, restaurants, theatres and other locations) under certain circumstances. Decentralised decision-making should, however, be the preferred approach wherever possible as it is more tailored to local context, institutional and individual needs, allowing local governments and institutions to decide which measures to introduce (for example, close or open schools and nurseries during a pandemic).
5. A balanced and fair solution for those who cannot be vaccinated due to health considerations needs to be found.
6. Further discussion is needed on whether employers should be allowed to dismiss employees who are not vaccinated. Such conditions should only apply to those staff members who are in contact with customers, and not all staff. Dismissal should anyhow be viewed as a ‘last option’ should employer fail to move employee to another position or location, or employee refuses to comply with employer’s requests. If such regulations are adopted, they should provide for sufficient transition period.
7. Decisions regarding public health protection should consider the changes that have taken place since early 2021. With vaccines freely available, everyone who cares about their health can get vaccinated at any time.
This means that there is no longer any reason to introduce large-scale economic or social restrictions, especially when such restrictions would affect those who have vaccinated themselves and pose less risk to themselves and others. This, however, would not apply to major waves of infection that could cause serious disruption in the healthcare system.
8. Considering that science keeps constantly developing and vaccines are being upgraded, all vaccinated persons should be given an opportunity to voluntarily apply for an additional (third) dose of vaccine in future to further strengthen their immune system. Latvia should consider such step immediately and facilitate necessary procurement procedures.
9. All information about Covid-19 restrictions, relevant adjustments, details, purpose and goals, as well as answers to frequently asked questions, should be available to population in a comprehensible and reader-friendly manner.
III
In conclusion, I would like to underline that instead of bulky and heavy Covid-19 containment package currently reviewed by the Saeima, parliament should make smaller changes in relevant laws regulating the fight against virus. Changes that would efficiently incorporate the above 9 principles.
If existing legal acts or their provisions do not expressly offer such option, a special regulation should be adopted to delegate the Cabinet of Ministers and local governments the right to introduce measures for containment of Covid-19 that are flexible, proportionate and respect fundamental human rights.