Vaccine passport beyond science and politics
A vaccine certificate, as proof of one’s inoculation, shall be his new permit, identification, or authorization to process all transactions and conduct all activities —from simply going out of his residence to traveling in general. As the vaccines have arrived, the next logical step could be an intentional declaration of the individual’s acceptance of said vaccine passport as our way of adjusting to the new normal.
the Covid-19 vaccine’s first roll out in our country generated an eclectic collection of responses. top government officials closely involved in its implementation were excited, while ordinary citizens found themselves on opposing sides of the parted Red sea—one group indifferent and willing for the vaccine to pass them by, and the other, anxiously waiting and praying to get the vaccine in their system.
A lot of people are understandably hesitant to get inoculated. Aside from the swift process and timeframe by which these much-awaited shots were formulated (casting a cloud of doubt on their efficacy), their source has also become an issue of science and politics. I gather that some people prefer vaccines from the US over China. I heard reports that a person, already vaccinated, was not spared from death. Yet the only explanation proffered by health officials is the presence of a pre-existing ailment, like bronchitis, already besetting the recipient at the time of the inoculation.
Should our government make inoculation mandatory as an extreme measure regardless of any violent or tacit objection? After all, Covid cases in the Philippines are still on the rise. Apparently, the masks and social distancing requirements have proven to be inadequate, and not even the travel restrictions have come close to curbing the spate of infections. We may be seeing a novel prerequisite not just for entering establishments or purchasing basic goods and services, but also for simple pursuits as boarding a public utility vehicle. And this requirement may be as wide-ranging as going abroad, with our country forging an agreement with other nations to demand the same condition for entry, and vice-versa. In some countries, a certificate of vaccination has become a new “passport.” Can this certificate be the next level “no face mask/face shield, no entry” rule? Under that scenario, authorities will find difficulty in enforcement since many can take an obstinate posture that they can do without the vaccine for as long as they take the necessary precautions. However which way one may decide, it cannot be gainsaid that with the vaccine certificate as the new “law” under the “new normal,” a person’s movement shall be gravely affected.
Also, communal discrimination against those who are not yet vaccinated is not a remote possibility. With this thought, I was reminded of the 1997 science-fiction film Gattaca where test tube babies were created to lead the Earth and those born the conventional way were relegated to a lower caste to perform menial jobs. “Perfect health, a high I.Q. and a long life-span” qualify a person to a new world of “Gattaca.” Using biometrics to distinguish those so created as “valids” from the ones conceived the oldfashioned way thus more vulnerable to genetic disorders as “in-valids,” the system creates a qualification scheme especially for professional employment. This spawned genetic discrimination.
Analogous to this movie where eugenics is utilized to improve the genetic quality of a human population, our “future” society can make use of the “vaccine passport” to ensure the safety of the general populace. It will be protection over risk, uniformity instead of diversity, compliance and not compromise. Those found lacking in said documentary criterion will be isolated and discriminated against, regrettably so. A vaccine certificate, as proof of one’s inoculation, shall be his new permit, identification, or authorization to process all transactions and conduct all activities—from simply going out of his residence to traveling in general. As the vaccines have arrived, the next logical step could be an intentional declaration of the individual’s acceptance of said vaccine passport as our way of adjusting to the new normal.
From a figurative perspective, it may be best to consider these vaccines as a “gift” to humanity. As in law and in fact, a recipient must freely accept every gift. Fortunately, our stance with our Creator, the Almighty God, is accentuated by the gift of salvation.
Such a gift, made possible by that one true sacrifice of Jesus Christ, is never conditioned upon anyone’s qualification. The gift is offered to all, yet only those who will consciously accept this gift are truly “inoculated” with salvation! In the Bible, Romans 10:9-13 emphasized the conscious declaration or confession from the sinner’s mouth that he accepts Jesus as his savior, thus, “If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Similar to the eventual availability of the Covid-19 vaccine, while forgiveness and salvation are made available for everyone, only those who declare and accept Jesus as their Savior are saved. With ease, our only passport to Heaven is the mark of our Savior in our hearts, with a stamp called “valid,” to distinguish us from those whose spiritual symbols state “invalid.”
Nevertheless, instead of showing any discrimination against the latter, we display our passports of faith to them, in words and in action, and pray for them. Like skeptics to the vaccine, these non-believers will accept the gift of salvation, in His time. I was taught that it is not my task to make others accept as my task is only to share with them that such a wonderful gift exists, whose source is beyond science and politics!
A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission.
For questions and comments, please e-mail me sbmison@gmail.com.