TORONTO – There is growing concern about the Omicron variant in Canada and the rest of the world. The new strain, highly contagious compared to the original Covid-19, has forced many countries to reactivate restrictions that had been set aside in recent months and has fueled the debate on the need to get to the mandatory vaccination of the population. 

Some nations, on this front, have already decided to break the delay and go on their way. In Austria, for example, the mandatory vaccine has already been approved, which will come into force next February, with very high fines (over 7 thousand euros, equal to just under 10 thousand Canadian dollars) for those who decide not to get vaccinated without being in possession of a valid medical motivation. Germany has decided to take the same path.

On the one hand, a new tightening on the Green Pass has been approved, on the other hand, a bill has been filed in parliament that, if it were to be approved – and in numbers there are – will lead to the mandatory vaccination of the entire population aged 12 and over. Even in Italy the debate on the obligation of the vaccine is taking off and the government, for now, does not exclude the possible approval of a measure of this type, while last week the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen launched an appeal for a thoughtful and coordinated discussion on mandatory vaccination to start at continental level.

The theme, logically, is bound to divide. Even here in Canada in the scientific community we find different positions, with the prevalence, however, of those who preach a moderate approach on the issue: no, in essence, to the obligation of vaccination, yes – instead – to an information campaign to convince the fringes of the diehard no vax whose refusal of the vaccine feeds and gives strength to the contagion in Ontario and in the other provinces.

Putting this aside, even if we wanted to get to the mandatory vaccination there would be very significant constitutional difficulties. In Canada, in fact, health is the prerogative of the individual provinces, with the federal government that can only act on the framework and reference laws.

Ottawa, in theory, could invoke the emergency legislation – Emergency Act – but even on this it could clash with possible resistance from provincial governments. In short, the chaotic scenario that would come out of it would not help to reach those pockets of vaccine resistance still present in our country.

It remains to be understood what the various levels of government can do to cope with the new emergency linked to Omicron, with cases that continue to increase – in Ontario for three consecutive days we have exceeded one thousand – and with the Christmas holidays just around the corner, where it is to be taken into account as in recent years a probable increase in infections.

However, the hope remains linked to the thesis supported by a group of virologists according to which Omicron would be more contagious than the other variants but, at the same time, would cause milder symptoms.