Reserved for the Vaccinated: A Debate on Segregated Spaces and Discrimination

As the vaccination rollout continues across the country, certain business executives are considering the idea of separating vaccinated workers and customers from those who are still unvaccinated. This type of policy will most likely be enforced once the country has vaccinated around 40-50% of the adult population.

“If there are some employees who have not taken the vaccine or don’t want to take the vaccine, we may have to isolate them in another section. They are still going to be our employees, but we will have to find a way to protect them from possibly infecting those who have been vaccinated. This is something that we are looking into,” said the Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion.

Concepcion argues that areas of separation will include enclosed spaces with poor ventilation like elevators, offices, and the like. Additionally, he clarified that this proposal will not be implemented in areas with quick turnover rates like fast food branches. Establishment owners may also look into the possibility of denying entry to people who have not been vaccinated.

“Until everybody takes the vaccine, not everybody will be safe – that’s the principle that we are looking into,” explained Concepcion. “Between the vaccine and wearing a face mask, which is more protective against infection? Very clearly the vaccine, right?”

While certain companies are already in talks with health experts regarding this idea, it has likewise been met with a lot of opposition. Granted, this is evidently an attempt of segregating the population and propagating a case of discrimination against the unvaccinated.

“Segregation, in my view, may raise ethical and legal issues that need serious and careful deliberation,” said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, but affirmed that it might still be untimely to express his thoughts since a formal proposal is yet to be presented to the Task Force.

“There is no real science when we talk about these things. It’s more of an ethical issue and discrimination issue,” expressed Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

“Maybe that should be discussed also further with the other agencies, and also with the Department of Justice, if we are going to have this kind of implementation, and if there would be some legal or ethical issues concerning this matter,” added Vergeire.

According to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, implementing a “no vaccine, no entry” protocol in establishments is also ill-advised.

“Is it discriminatory? I believe it’s not, it’s what the owners want to do to protect other people from getting infected,” mentioned Concepcion.

This debate comes at a time when vaccine hesitancy persists within the country making the current pace of vaccination less than ideal. There’s still a long way to go before the Philippines hits herd immunity, and this proposition will probably serve to slow it down. It’s important to note, however, that getting vaccinated is still a personal choice that should be respected.

“Alam naman nating marami ‘yung vaccine hesitancy. ‘Pag ginawa pa natin ‘yan, masyadong discriminatory, baka ‘yung mga Pinoy… ‘yung isip nila mas maging negatibo,” (“We all know there’s that vaccine hesitancy is rampant. If we do that, more Filipinos might have negative thoughts about the vaccines,”) said Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president emeritus George Barcelon.

However, vaccinations are expected to pick up as the private sector gets ready to receive an influx of doses this June for their employees. The government has also steadily been going through its vaccination priority framework, opening more and more opportunities for the public to get inoculated.

Just a couple of months ago, a similar debate was being discussed where employers were considering a “no vaccine, no work” policy for their employees upon returning to the workplace. It sprung up when the vaccination rollout was just beginning to launch in March and reopening the country became a viable option.

That debate has since been invalidated by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III as questions surrounding its legality arose.

“It is not legal for employers to require the employee to be vaccinated [against COVID-19] before they can enter the workplace. There’s no legal basis for that,” explained Bello. “That will be discrimination.”

According to the National Task Force Against COVID-19, the country has already administered 6.1 million vaccine shots as of June 7. Moreover, at least 1.6 million have received their second dose of vaccines as well.

Suffice it to say, the fight against the global pandemic rages on. While the light at the end of this very dark tunnel comes into view, there still quite a long stretch of road ahead for the country to traverse before we can genuinely say that the worst is behind us.

References: PhilStar, CNN PH, Rappler