Over the past few days, many people have asked me what the Green Party of Quebec’s position is on the vaccine passport that would restrict certain places such as bars, rest rooms and gyms to vaccinated people only. Today I am announcing the Green Party of Quebec’s support for this health measure.
Science, doctors and public health officials have been very clear that our hospitals could easily be overwhelmed with unvaccinated people sick with COVID in the coming months if the number of vaccinations does not increase. A fourth wave would mean that surgeries and many other procedures would have to be postponed as they were in the first, second and third waves. These delays in procedures have a very human cost and tens of thousands of Quebecers are suffering. Some are struggling to live their lives, others are suffering and many are anxious and stressed about not having access to health services when they need them. Medical staff were already overworked and underpaid before the pandemic and the situation has only gotten worse.
While some people have expressed legitimate concerns about civil liberties, others have propagated outlandish conspiracy theories. It is perfectly reasonable to limit certain freedoms of the unvaccinated in order to protect our medical system, save the lives of vulnerable people, and ensure that we get out of this pandemic as quickly as possible. It is also entirely reasonable to close restaurants, gyms and other non-essential businesses to the unvaccinated rather than closing them to everyone when so many of us have been fully vaccinated. If you don’t want to be vaccinated, avoid non-essential spaces to protect yourself and others. This is a perfectly reasonable request.
The Green Party of Quebec is a party that takes science seriously. We care about human and planetary health, about protecting the most vulnerable and about solidarity with one another. We understand the scientific need for a vaccine passport in the same way that we understand the scientific need to fight global warming. We will therefore support the implementation of the vaccine passport by the provincial government.
For those who are hesitant to get vaccinated, I encourage you to look at the results of the vaccination campaign. Side effects are extremely rare and generally mild. 84% of eligible people in Quebec have already received a first dose. The most common side effects are a slight feeling of discomfort for a few hours or pain in the arm. The consequences of infection with the virus and its transmission to others are often fatal. People who survive the virus often have long-term health consequences. The United States has recognized long-term covidia as a disability. In some cases, the virus can be transmitted to hundreds of people by one person. The statistics are overwhelming. The vaccine has proven its efficacy and we must act. We must all do our part to protect the health of the community. We must act in solidarity to protect the vulnerable members of our communities. Under these circumstances, a vaccine passport is entirely justified.
People who care about their health should get vaccinated for their own well-being. People who do not care about their own health should get vaccinated to protect the community. People who are so opposed to vaccination that they refuse to vaccinate should be prepared to continue their social distancing, work from home, and function as we all did in the first wave, when no one was vaccinated. Everyone must do their part.
For all these reasons, the Green Party of Quebec supports the vaccine passport.
Alex Tyrrell
Leader of the Green Party of Quebec
