Compulsory COVID-19 Vaccination in Nigeria: A Breach of Rights?

Abstract

Vaccination stands as a highly-effective medical intervention
against infectious diseases, curbing disease spread within a
population, and offering communal protection, albeit
contingent on widespread adoption. To control the global
health threat posed by the highly infectious COVID-19
pandemic, vaccination emerges as a crucial strategy. Despite
this, vaccine hesitancy prevails, hindering the realization of
herd immunity and prompting governments to consider
mandatory vaccination. However, enforcing compulsory
COVID-19 vaccination raises complex human rights
concerns, including the right to life, bodily autonomy, dignity,
liberty, privacy, and freedom from discrimination. Employing
a qualitative research methodology, this study investigates laws
and existing literature. While compulsory vaccination can
violate personal rights, it can be reasonable and justifiable
when deployed to safeguard public health and the well-being
of others. Thus, the paper asserts that compulsory vaccination
should be a recourse after alternative strategies have been
exhausted, accompanied by robust informational campaigns
to foster trust and bolster vaccine acceptance.