No need to frown on Covid-19 vaccine sceptics

IN ANY vibrant, plural and democratic society that respects itself, heated debates are bound to ensue every time a decision has to be taken or has been taken.

In our fledging democracy – under siege from thin-skinned liberals who stubbornly believe only their views should prevail all the time – a debate is raging about Covid-19 vaccines.

Covid-19 vaccine sceptics note that some of these vaccines could have devastating side effects, and they rely on evidence already seen elsewhere in the world. While some sceptics are trying to sway people away from the vaccines by spreading misleading information, others are genuinely concerned that the vaccines could have harmful effects.

Further bolstering sceptics’ arguments are constant reports that some people in Australia came out with false HIV (positive) results after taking some Covid-19 vaccine; elsewhere people have reportedly died or developed devastating complications.

The medical journal, Science, also reported about severe allergy-like reactions in people who received vaccines produced by Pfizer and BioNTech. That’s of great concern.

But what is also concerning are the spikes in new infections and deaths in the second wave of the pandemic in our country, and the fact that we were not properly prepared for it.

This includes the worry that while South Africans have been used in vaccine trials, we may have missed the opportunity to secure vaccines any time soon.

Since we live in a democratic society, proponents and producers of the vaccines should take the criticism as constructive. After all, it is meant to keep them on their toes and push them to produce the best vaccines with the fewest possible side effects.

Criticism, naturally, is some form of checks and balances. It is meant to push people to produce the best results while working under pressure.