Editorial | Fake vaccination exemptions cannot be tolerated
- With many thousands of unvaccinated people possibly entering high-risk venues after obtaining forged documents, the threat to public health is evident
The use of fake certificates to get around the vaccination requirements can neither be justified nor tolerated. This message must be made loud and clear as more doctors and citizens have been arrested for allegedly forging exemption documents. With many thousands of unvaccinated people possibly going in and out of high-risk places in such a way amid a lingering community outbreak, the threat to public health is evident.
The medical sector has quickly shown its disapproval of the alleged offences in a statement as more cases came to light. The community should join the profession in saying no to any abuse of the mechanism. The vaccine pass has proved to be a useful tool to enhance inoculation and immunity among the public. We trust the cases will be handled fairly in accordance with the law, and possibly followed up by the medical profession.
The exemptions on valid medical grounds are necessary to ensure those deemed unsuitable for vaccination will not be inconvenienced by the restrictions. But it should not become a convenient excuse to shun the jab. Many people actually resist only out of fear and scepticism. But these issues can be dispelled by proper medical consultations. As experts repeatedly emphasised, only few people are deemed unfit for vaccination and usually not indefinitely. The city has administered tens of millions of shots without serious issues.
Admittedly, Covid fatigue has been on the rise as the epidemic drags on. There are growing calls on the government to remove some of the stringent restrictions, such as the yellow health code that bans travellers from entering restaurants and other high-risk premises immediately after quarantine. But it does not mean the rules can be cast aside or selectively observed.
When there is demand, there is supply. Members of the public must therefore resist the temptation. Those with fake exemptions are putting their lives and those of others in danger when they enter high-risk venues without protection. The alleged frauds make a mockery of the city’s defence mechanism and do nothing for our long battle against the coronavirus. As we strive to bring public living back to normal, vigilance and compliance remain essential.