Polish president: ‘I am absolutely opposed to mandatory vaccinations’

During a cabinet council meeting involving top Polish politicians in the Warsaw presidential palace, President Andrzej Duda referred to claims in the public sphere that there could be mandatory vaccinations against the coronavirus in Poland. He noted that parents are worried that children will be forced to get vaccinated.

“I want to tell the prime minister and all of you one thing: I am absolutely opposed to mandatory vaccinations. I believe that it will lead to social unrest and I think that this is an issue of people’s responsibility and everyone should bear this responsibility on their own,” he declared.

The president remarked that mandatory vaccinations are a breach of boundaries which cannot be allowed. He pointed to Poles’ defiant national character as justification.

“If people will be forced to do this, then we will have a poor social situation, which would truly lead to tensions,” he said.

Andrzej Duda, president of Poland:

I am absolutely opposed to mandatory vaccinations. I believe that it will lead to social unrest.

The editor-in-chief of Do Rzeczy weekly, Paweł Lisicki, praised the president’s words.

“I am very pleased that these words were said, especially given the ideas which have been appearing, such as introducing mandatory vaccinations for different social or employment groups. The president represents common sense and his statement should be a barrier against irresponsible ideas,” he said.

Lisicki added that Duda echoed parents’ concerns. He explained that from a practical point of view, if the government would try to introduce mandatory vaccines, then it could lead to chaos, divisions and unhealthy rivalry.

“Therefore, Andrzej Duda stands on the side of common sense and freedom,” he said.