France, Australia, Great Britain, Greece, Italy.

The list of countries where covid-19 vaccine is now required to work in health and care is getting longer every day.

Other countries go even further - in Fiji and Saudi Arabia, for example, the vaccination requirement applies to anyone who simply wants a workplace to go to.

- It will of course be limiting, says Björn Rönnerstrand, researcher in political science at the University of Gothenburg, to TT.

- We have already seen that people's freedom of movement is restricted during the pandemic.

The vaccine is actually a way to remedy just that.

In Sweden, all types of vaccines are voluntary.

In a Som survey in 2018, however, a clear majority said they were in favor of a mandatory general vaccination program for children.

According to Rönnerstrand, it was mainly older people and those who read a lot of newspapers who were in favor of a compulsory.

- The support was lower among those who lack confidence in healthcare staff.

I think this is an important factor also when it comes to the pandemic vaccine.

Historical protests

In France, for example, where vaccine certificates are required from August onwards for train travel, cinema and restaurant visits, among other things, vaccine skepticism has historically been high.

Introducing strict vaccination requirements in such a country entails a dilemma, says Rönnerstrand.

- This type of obligation is needed especially in countries where confidence in healthcare and institutions is low.

But with demands at the same time, confidence risks becoming even lower.

Strict demands risk making the biggest opponents react by kicking backwards, Rönnerstrand believes.

Historically, vaccine claims have stirred emotions.

As early as the 19th century, the obligatory smallpox vaccination aroused dissatisfaction in many camps, especially among groups outside society.

In Britain, for example, thousands of vaccine opponents took to the streets to protest.

Volunteering and transparency

Measures that are perceived as coercion may have consequences for people's willingness to make other efforts to limit the spread of infection, according to Rönnerstrand.

- But depending on the attitude to covid-19, mandatory can certainly be effective.

We saw, for example, that very many booked vaccination time after the French vaccine rules were announced.