Covid-19 crisis Allow vaccinated people to resume normal activities
Prof Tommy Koh suggested that vaccinated people should be allowed to resume normal lives and that unvaccinated people should not be allowed to visit crowded places and restaurants.

Many people responded strongly against this suggestion. They argued that this is discriminatory and unfair to the people who choose to be unvaccinated for various reasons - some are not medically fit to be vaccinated while others think that vaccination is more harmful than good.

The argument that the proposal is discriminatory is just one perspective. I see the issue from a different perspective. 

At present, the entire population is being restricted from normal activities to prevent the spread of the virus. 

The proposal put forward by Prof Koh is to allow the vaccinated people to resume their normal activities as the risk of the infection is reduced considerably by the vaccination. 

Although the vaccinated people can still be infected, the virus is likely to be mild. It will not harm the infected person, who will recover after a few days. 

Furthermore, the virus is less likely to spread when it is in a mild state. 

I believe that it is quite safe to allow the vaccinated people to resume their normal activities, such as visiting restaurants, gyms and to resume international travel.

Although the risk is low, the vaccinated people are still advised to continue to wear a mask and to practice social distancing in crowded places.

Instead of describing the proposal as "penalizing the unvaccinated", it should be described as "allowing the vaccinated people, who are low risk, to resume their normal activities. 

Several countries have already taken this step. Prof Koh's proposal is along the same lines.

Tan Kin Lian
 

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