Motion for a Resolution by
The Committee on Environment, Public Health and Safety (ENVI)
The extent of liberty: As of October 2020, a near 4 million COVID-19 cases have been reported in the EU/EEA and the UK. Anticipating the introduction of a vaccine in 2021, how should the EU tackle the issue of anti-vaccination and enforcement of public health norms whilst respecting citizens’ freedom of choice?
Submitted by: Ninni Issakainen (FI, Chairperson)
The European Youth Parliament,
- Concerned by the fact that European Union (EU) has lower confidence in vaccines than other regions of the world,
- Aware of the variation in vaccine confidence among Member States,
- Recognizing that vaccine hesitancy and misinformation are substantial obstacles to achieving high vaccine coverage and herd immunity,
- Pointing out that trust in information from government sources affects the likelihood of a person to accept a vaccine,
- Noting that mandatory vaccination schemes do not necessarily lead to higher rates of vaccine coverage,
- Stressing the role of online platforms in spreading disinformation and consolidating a negative public image about the COVID-19 vaccination,
- Observing the criticism on limitations the Code of Practice on Disinformation as a measure against the spread of misinformation online,
- Believing that the most common concern linked to the COVID-19 vaccine is its safety,
- Affirming European citizens Freedom of Expression as outlined in Article 10 of European Convention on Human Rights