for pharmacologist sabina vohra-miller, co-founder of the toronto-based south asian health network and the vohra miller foundation, however, the concept of vaccine passports serves only to “further marginalize communities that already have built-in inequities.”
many of those not yet vaccinated include migrant or undocumented workers frightened of being deported, essential service workers, people with mobility issues and racialized groups with a deep-rooted distrust of the health-care system.
“what’s going to happen when you disallow people from certain activities is you further stigmatize and disadvantage the same populations that have been very marginalized throughout the entire pandemic,” vohra-miller said. “so it’s just going to perpetuate inequities.”
governments should focus instead on education and outreach programs to get vaccines to those groups, she said. they should also maintain non-pharmaceutical protections against covid-19, such as social distancing and masks, until most of the population has received their two doses, instead of the rapid easing of restrictions happening canada-wide, she added.
“i think the way to improve vaccine uptake is to do the hard work of education. that way, in the long run you improve vaccine confidence, as opposed to this short-term solution that won’t solve the problem.”