Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) has made a bold move that B.C. should consider following, in order to encourage people to make the sensible choice and get vaccinated against COVID-19. People in that country who are "unvaccinated by choice" will soon be charged for their medical treatment if they end up needing it after contracting the deadly virus.
In a statement released Nov. 8, 2021, the MOH says that "those who are not fully vaccinated continue to disproportionately make up the bulk of severe and ICU cases, and impose a strain on our healthcare system," in the Southeast Asian country. Hence, "from 8 December 2021, we will begin charging COVID-19 patients who are unvaccinated by choice."
People who are immunized and still end up needing medical care because of COVID-19 won't get billed, and "COVID-19 medical bills for those who are ineligible for vaccination will still be fully paid for by the government, i.e. children under 12 years old or medically ineligible persons."
Like Singapore, the majority of people who get the virus in our province and require medical care are unvaccinated. The most recent numbers show they make up 85% of all COVID-19 patients in the ICU. One would think that a staggering number like that would be encouragement for the remaining eligible British Columbians (roughly 10% of the population over 12) to get protected.
Sadly, the threat of becoming critically ill (as well as not being able to board an airplane, or dine in at restaurants, etc) doesn't seem to be incentive enough for some. Perhaps the prospect of going bankrupt after recovering might be a more effective - if callous - strategy at this point.
