Free Will and the Covid-19 Vaccine
Brett Borthwick
Do we as human beings have free will? Most would likely say yes, for we perceive the autonomy to make decisions, to choose and control, rather than act for survival. In many ways, free will is the principal delineation between man and animal which contributes to what makes us civilized.
What happens when our free will is threatened? What happens when universities and airlines require Covid-19 vaccination to participate? Do we retreat as a society into authoritarianism or does nothing change—has the individual’s free will ever existed? Does opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine based on the premise of compromised autonomy actually involve any true scientific reservation, or is it simply a matter of perceived ‘free will’ being threatened and potentially revoked?
A study conducted by Imperial College of London found that: “...people who feel their sense of autonomy, or free will, is unmet by government incentives like vaccine passports are less likely to take the COVID-19 vaccine” (Brogan 1). Potentially compromising physical health and wellbeing for psychological satisfaction seems to be a trend across those opposed to receiving the jab. Public health incentives such as vaccine passports further exaggerate vaccine reservations.
Universities requiring vaccination is not new. Prior to Covid-19, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella as well as the Meningitis vaccines were highly recommended if not obligatory for most colleges and universities globally. American universities that mandate the Covid-19 vaccine include Harvard, Yale, Brown, University of California, and State University of New York (Cortez). In the United Kingdom, Hartpury University and College took a step into unchartered waters, becoming the first English university “to ban unvaccinated students” (Sinclair 1). The terminology used by Leah Sinclair, ‘ban unvaccinated,’ rather than ‘require vaccination’ is interesting to note. While the two carry the same meaning, the former has starkly different connotations. It implies the student’s ability to choose is compromised and a liberty is revoked. The reality is students are only required to be vaccinated at Hartpury if they intend to live in halls or participate in sports or social activities (Sinclair 1). This is not a ban in the slightest; it is a requirement if one wishes to pursue such endeavors. Nonetheless, the student can decide their fate. One parent spoke out against her daughter’s university policy and stated, “I’m not an anti-vaxxer but I believe her immune system is strong enough to deal with the virus. Why should she have to prove her medical history?” (Sinclair 1). While the NHS expressed it has no intention of imposing secondary school vaccination requirements, universities are autonomous in their policies.
At St Andrews, a recent comprehensive study found that 97% of students have had at least one dose and 73% are fully vaccinated. There is currently no mandate, ban, or requirement in place and yet, all but 3% of students have expressed some willingness to receive the vaccine on their own accord.
The legitimacy of free will thus seems apparent, but there are other factors at play—social conditioning, ethnicity, race, politics, and more. Such influences make the choice to get vaccinated ‘influenced will’, rather than absolute ‘free will’. Ultimately, can influence ever be detangled from the will?
Citations
Brogan, Caroline. “Vaccine Passports Linked To COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy In UK And Israel | Imperial News | Imperial College London.” Imperial News: Imperial College, 2 Sept. 2021, https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/229153/vaccine-passports-linked-covid-19-vaccine-hesitancy/.
Gostin LO, Salmon DA, Larson HJ. Mandating COVID-19 Vaccines. JAMA. 2021;325(6):532–533. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.26553
Cortez, Marjorie. “Another Utah College Will Require COVID-19 Vaccines. Do Students Support Shot Mandates?” Deseret News, 2 Sept. 2021, https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/9/1/22652410/another-utah-college-requires-covid-19-vaccines-what-do-students-think-about-mandates-davis-college.
Sinclair, Leah. University Becomes First In The UK To Ban Unvaccinated Students. 20 Aug. 2021, https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/first-uk-university-ban-unvaccinated-students-hartpury-covid19-b951534.html.
St Andrews Reveals Almost All Its Students Have Been Vaccinated. https://news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/st-andrews-reveals-almost-all-its-students-have-been-vaccinated/. Accessed 14 Sept. 2021.