With the emergence of COVID-19, the health of human being around the world was affected largely. The number of infected cases due to COVID-19 is increasing worldwide and more people died because of the disease. One of the clusters for COVID-19 infections is at the workplace. Hence, vaccination is essential to reduce the rising number of infected cases in Malaysia. This paper intended to achieve several objectives, firstly, to examine the issues and challenges arising in mandating the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition for work and secondly, to analyse the mandatory vaccination practice in other jurisdictions. This paper adopts a doctrinal approach with references to case law, legislation, current issues and practices in other jurisdictions. Finally, this paper provides suggestions to implement compulsory vaccination at the workplace in forming herd immunity against COVID-19.
Ayers, A. A. (2020). Can Employers Mandate the Covid-19 Vaccine? The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine, 25-27.
Bell, J., (2021). Mandatory COVID-19 vaccine direction for WA hotel quarantine workers comes into force. Human Resource Director Australia. https://www.hcamag.com/au/news/general/mandatory-covid-19-vaccine-direction-for-wa-hotel-quarantine-workers-comes-into-force/254505
Bowen, R. A. (2020). Ethical and organizational considerations for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of health care workers: a clinical laboratorian's perspective. Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry, 510, 421-422.
Byrners, M. (2021). Manda¬to¬ry Work¬place Vac¬ci¬na¬tion: The Cur¬rent State of Play, Swaab. https://www.swaab.com.au/publication/mandatory-workplace-vaccination-the-current-state-of-play?utm_source=Mondaq&utm_medium=syndication&utm_campaign=LinkedIn-integration
Costello, M. M., (2020). Employer Mandates for COVID 19 Vaccination. International Research Journal of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, 3(6), 48.
Cotula, L. (2020). Towards a political economy of the COVID-19 crisis: Reflections on an agenda for research and action. World Development, 105235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105235
COVID: Workplace clusters are increasing - Dr Noor Hisham. (2021). BERNAMA. https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news_covid-19.php?id=1965816
D’Ancona, F., D’Amario, C., Maraglino, F., Rezza, G., & Iannazzo, S. (2019). The law on compulsory vaccination in Italy: an update 2 years after the introduction. Eurosurveillance, 24(26), 1900371. https://doi.org /10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.26.1900371.
Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, (2021). Saranan kepada Rakyat Malaysia untuk Mendaftar dan Mengambil Vaksin Covid-19. https://www.islam.gov.my/en/
Dror, A. A., Eisenbach, N., Taiber, S., Morozov, N. G., Mizrachi, M., Zigron, A., Srouji, S., & Sela, E. (2020). Vaccine hesitancy: the next challenge in the fight against COVID-19. European journal of Epidemiology, 35(8), 775-779.
Faruqi, S. S. (2008). Document of Destiny: The Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia. Star Publications (Malaysia) Berhad. 763-774.
Feleszko, W., Lewulis, P., Czarnecki, A., & Waszkiewicz, P. (2021). Flattening the curve of covid-19 vaccine rejection—An international overview. Vaccines, 9(1), 44.
Feyisa, H. L. (2020). The World Economy at COVID-19 quarantine: contemporary review. International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences, 8 (2), 63-74.
Frati, P., La Russa, R., Di Fazio, N., Del Fante, Z., Delogu, G., & Fineschi, V. (2021). Compulsory Vaccination for Healthcare Workers in Italy for the Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Vaccines, 9(9), 966. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9090966
Godinho, V. (2021). Saudi says vaccination needed to use public transport, enter government and private offices, Gulf Business. https://gulfbusiness.com/saudi-says-vaccination-needed-to-use-public-transport-enter-government-and-private-offices/
Gostin, L. O. (2002). Public health law in an age of terrorism: Rethinking individual rights and common goods. Health Affairs, 21(6), 79-93.
Gualano, M., Olivero, E., Voglino, G., Corezzi, M., Rossello, P., Vicentini, C., Bert, F., & Siliquini, R. (2019). Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards compulsory vaccination: a systematic review. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 15(4), 918–931. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2018.1564437
Gur-Arie, R., Jamrozik, E., & Kingori, P. (2021). No jab, no job? Ethical issues in mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of healthcare personnel. BMJ Global Health, 6(2), e004877. https://doi.org/10.32890/uumjls2021.12.2.6
Hughes, K., Gogineni, V., Lewis, C., & Deshpande, A. (2021). Considerations for fair prioritization of COVID-19 vaccine and its mandate among healthcare personnel. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 37(6), 907-909.
Ibrahim, M. I., & Muzamir, M. Y. (2020). “PKP buat 204 syarikat, hotel 'gulung tikar.” Berita Harian. https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2020/11/757273/parlimen-pkp-buat-204-syarikat-hotel-gulung-tikar
International Labour Organization. (2021). ILO Standards and COVID-19 (coronavirus), International Labour Standards Department. https://www.ilo.org/global/standards/WCMS_839726/lang--en/index.htm
Islam, M. S., Kamal, A. H. M., Kabir, A., Southern, D. L., Khan, S. H., Hasan, S. M., & Seale, H. (2021). COVID-19 vaccine rumors and conspiracy theories: The need for cognitive inoculation against misinformation to improve vaccine adherence. PloS one, 16(5), e0251605.
Kanitkar, T. (2020). The COVID-19 lockdown in India: Impacts on the economy and the power sector. Global transitions, 2, 150-156.
Kaplan, A. K., Sahin, M. K., Parildar, H., & Adadan Guvenc, I. (2021). The willingness to accept the COVID?19 vaccine and affecting factors among healthcare professionals: A cross?sectional study in Turkey. International Journal of Clinical Practice, e14226.
Kevat D., Panaccio D., Pang S.C., Dean J., Farmer C.C., & Mahar P.D., (2021). Medicolegal Considerations of Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination in High-Risk Workers, The Medical Journal of Australia. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2021/medicolegal-considerations-mandatory-covid-19-vaccination-high-risk-workers
Khan, N. J. M., & Zulkipli, Z. N. (2018). Compulsory Vaccination for Children in Malaysia: Legislation and Realisation. Yuridika, 33(3), 402-416.
Khan, N. J. M., Ghazali, F., & Shukor, S. F. A. (2021). Compulsory vaccination for children: Violation of human rights? UUM Journal of Legal Studies, 12 (2), 115-140.
Largent, E. A., Persad, G., Sangenito, S., Glickman, A., Boyle, C., & Emanuel, E. J. (2020). US public attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccine mandates. JAMA Network Open, 3(12), e2033324-e2033324.
Lim, V. K. E. L, Adnan, A., Chang, K. M., Isahak, I., Sani, N. M., Ariffin, L., Chidambaram, S. K., & William, T. (2014). Guidelines for Adult Immunisation, 2nd Edition. Malaysian Society of Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy. https://www.Adult-Immunisation-Guideline-2nd-Edition-2014.pdf
Malone, K. M., & Hinman, A. R. (2003). Vaccination mandates: The public health imperative and individual rights. Law in Public Health Practice, 262-84.
Matteucci, S. C. (2021). Italy: between mandatory and conditional Covid-19 vaccination policies. Lac19 Blog Symposium, https://lexatlas-c19.org/covid-19-vaccination-in-italy-between-compulsory-and-conditional-policies-2/
Ministry of Health, Malaysia. (2021). Covid-19 Malaysia. http://covid-19.moh.gov.my/
Mohammed, T., Mustapha, K. B., Godsell, J., Adamu, Z., Babatunde, K. A., Akintade, D. D. & Koh, S. C. L. (2021). A critical analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and ecosystems and opportunities for circular economy strategies. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 164, 105169.
National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, The Special Committee for Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV), 18 February 2021, https://www.vaksincovid.gov.my/pdf/National_COVID-19_Immunisation_Programme.pdf
Osman, M. S. (2020). ”Cegah Kluster Tempat Kerja.” Astro Awani. https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/cegah-kluster-tempat-kerja-274659
Parmet, W. E. (2021). Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo — The Supreme Court and Pandemic Controls. New England Journal of Medicine, 384(3), 199–201. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmp2034280
Paterlini, M. (2021). Covid-19: Italy makes vaccination mandatory for healthcare workers. BMJ, 373, n905. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n905
Peruch, M., Toscani, P., Grassi, N., Zamagni, G., Monasta, L., Radaelli, D., Livieri, T., Manfredi, A., & D’Errico, S. (2022). Did Italy Really Need Compulsory Vaccination against COVID-19 for Healthcare Workers? Results of a Survey in a Centre for Maternal and Child Health. Vaccines, 10(8), 1293. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10081293
Qattan, A. M. N., Alshareef, N., Alsharqi, O., Al Rahahleh, N., Chirwa, G. C., & Al-Hanawi, M. K. (2021). Acceptability of a COVID-19 Vaccine Among Healthcare Workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Frontiers in Medicine, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.644300
Rahman, A. H. (2021). “468 kes bunuh diri bagi tempoh Januari hingga Mei tahun ini – PDRM”, Astro Awani. https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/468-kes-bunuh-diri-bagi-tempoh-januari-hingga-mei-tahun-ini-pdrm-306084 /
Reiss, D. R., & Weithorn, L. A., (2015). Responding to the childhood vaccination crisis: Legal frameworks and tools in the context of parental vaccine refusal. Buffalo Law Review, 63(63), 881.
Rothstein, M. A., Parmet, W. E., & Reiss, D. R. (2021) Employer-Mandated Vaccination for COVID-19 American Journal of Public Health, 111(6), 1061-1064.
Shekhar, R., Sheikh, A. B., Upadhyay, S., Singh, M., Kottewar, S., Mir, H., Barrett, E., & Pal, S. (2021). COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Health Care Workers in the United States. Vaccines, 9(2), 119. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9020119
Singh, J. A., & Upshur, R. E. G. (2021). The granting of emergency use designation to COVID-19 candidate vaccines: implications for COVID-19 vaccine trials. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 21(4), e103–e109. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30923-3
Tan, T., Carvalho, M., Sivananthan, H., & Rahim, R. (2020, December 09). “Nearly 100,000 Malaysians have lost jobs since start of MCO, says HR ministry”, The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/12/09/nearly-100000-malaysians-have-lost-jobs-since-start-of-mco-says-hr-ministry
Thompson Reuters. (2021). “Saudi Arabia to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all workers.” Alarabiya News.
https://english.alarabiya.net/coronavirus/2021/05/07/Saudi-Arabia-to-make-COVID-19-vaccinations-mandatory-for-all-workers-
Wahab, H., & Razak, S. S. A. (2021). Pengurusan keselamatan dan kesihatan pekerjaan: Kewajipan majikan dan pekerja dalam menangani COVID-19. In Aziz, A. R. A., Wahab, M. N. B. A., Yudof, S. N. M. & Rani, A.A. (Eds.), COVID-19 dari Perspektif Sains Sosial Implikasi dan Solusi (pp. 181-200). Penerbit Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Malaysia
Yeoh, L., & Pua, W. J. (2021). “Compulsory Covid-19 vaccination for employees?” Malay Mail. https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2021/05/10/compulsory-covid-19-vaccination-for-employees-leonard-yeoh-and-pua-jun-wen/1972975
