Europeans Are Smarter than Us: Here’s Proof

by Robert McGarvey

I never thought I would say this so loudly and emphatically but now I have to: Europeans are smarter than we are. Here the proof: Starting August 6 Italy will require proof of vaccination (a so called health pass) to gain entry to bars, restaurants, concerts, museums, and just about all places where large numbers congregate. To get the pass there must be evidence of at least one vaccination shot.

Also in August, France will enforce a similar requirement. France, understand, had had a reputation of being something of a vaccine skeptic but, obviously, that was before. Now the government is all in with vaccines.

Greece already has in place a vaccine requirement for those who want entry at indoor restaurants, cafes, bars, or movie theaters

Understand: neither country has issued a broad requirement that residents get vaccinated. But they have said that for those who choose not to get vaccinated there is a price to pay and that price involves exclusion from most social venues.

Bravo. Globally Covid-19 is on a rampage. It is absurd to think we are on the other side of this pandemic. We are still in the thick of it. Nine nations – nine, count ’em – claim that more than 50% of their people have gotten at least one shot of a vaccine. On that list are Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, United States, Saudi Arabia, Argentina.

Globally only around one in four of us has gotten at least one vaccine shot. That means 75% have gotten none.

Meantime it is plain that the leading vaccinations are effective – especially Pfizer and Moderna. There is no rational basis for being a vaccine skeptic.

And yet in Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas – to point to the bottom three US states in terms of population percentage vaccinated – only about one third of the population is fully vaccinated and indications are that it will be very hard to persuade the vax deniers in those states to roll up a sleeve.

According to Politico, “many people…in the Southeast are turning down Covid-19 vaccines because they are angry that President Donald Trump lost the election and sick of Democrats in Washington thinking they know what’s best.”

I have no idea if that is right but what I do know is Covid is having its way in Alabama, where already 11,483 of them have died from Covid and more will, probably lots more.

Arkansas and Mississippi are doing no better.

But getting vax refusers vaccinated isn’t my mission. I have no suggestions about how to encourage them, especially when they are surrounded by sickness and death of neighbors, friends and family and that isn’t persuasion enough.

My mission is getting the US to implement a health pass a la France and Italy and Greece where those who are vaccinated get privileges that will be denied the vax refusers,

That seems a simple ask – but it is anything but.

Lots of US governors are implementing high barriers to prevent discrimination against the unvaccinated.

In Arizona, for instance, Governor Doug Ducey in June signed an executive order prohibiting public colleges and universities from requiring students to get vaccinated and they cannot require proof of vaccination to attend in person classes. What prompted that other than sheer stupidity? Ducey offered this feeble explanation: “The vaccine works, and we encourage Arizonans to take it. But it is a choice and we need to keep it that way,” said Gov. Ducey said in a statement. “Public education is a public right, and taxpayers are paying for it. We need to make our public universities available for students to return to learning. They have already missed out on too much learning.”

Ducey also signed an order banning “vaccine passports” at businesses.

The Arizona Covid-19 rate is ticking up right now. Rates are climbing so fast Ducey recently issued a statement urging residents to get vaccinated.

In Florida, meantime, Governor Ron DeSantis doubled down by signing into law a bill that bans businesses from seeking proof of vaccination by customers.

The Florida Covid-19 rate is really spiking upward, by the way, and if you are keeping lists of where not to go, put Florida high on that list.

In Texas, Governor Greg Abbot signed into a law that bans businesses from requiring proof of vaccination by customers. It’s sweeping legislation with real teeth: “In addition to banning private businesses from requiring proof of vaccination, SB 968 provides that any business that does require proof of vaccination will not be permitted to engage in state contracts, and some state agencies that regulate different business sectors may screen for compliance with SB 968 in issuing licenses and permits,” explained a Texas law firm.

Covid-19 rates are climbing in Texas too.

Sigh.

And now you understand why – obviously – Europeans are smarter than we are. They are taking steps to safely re-open their economies to those who are vaccinated and, no, vaccination is no guarantee against infection but right now it is the very best thing we have. As I said before, I see no need to require vaccinations – as long as we are willing and able to exclude those who refuse the shot.