Member of Parliament Discusses 'Caste' Policy of Vaccination and Testing Fraud

Member of Parliament Aregnaz Manukyan from the 'Armenia' faction posted the following:

“Regarding the 'caste' policy of vaccination and the fraud surrounding coronavirus testing... Starting October 1, a new policy will be implemented in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, which states that when attending work, one must either be vaccinated or be tested every two weeks. If an employer does not require their employees to comply with these rules, they can be fined. I want to present several observations, assessments, and questions on this issue.

1. I am in favor of vaccinations. At this moment, vaccination is the only option available to prevent the spread of the virus, but vaccination should be the result of a conscious choice by individuals, not a consequence of state coercion.

2. The government, through the Ministry of Health, has decided to implement a 'caste' method concerning the prevention of the coronavirus spread. This is yet another instance where we witness a haphazard, incomplete, questionable, unassessed, and illogical decision. Yes, vaccination is currently the only way to protect against the coronavirus worldwide. People get vaccinated to acquire antibodies. Now the question arises: if there are people who have already contracted the virus, recovered, and have antibodies (the total number of infected in Armenia is 259,779, of which 240,730 have recovered), why must they be mandated to get vaccinated? It would be more reasonable for previously infected individuals to undergo a blood analysis, and if it is determined that they have the necessary antibodies, they should present a certificate and be exempt from the obligation to vaccinate and test for a specific period (6 months). What is the point of vaccinating someone who already has antibodies against the coronavirus? In this regard, the 'caste' policy is wrong not only from a human rights perspective but also from a healthcare perspective.

3. Coronavirus testing has become a source of theft due to the inactivity or complicity of the government, particularly the Ministry of Health. The fact is that there is a significant price difference. Initially, the cost of a test was 20,000 drams, then it became 15,000. There were moments when medical centers offered testing for 9,000 drams. At the airport, testing prices varied between 11,000 and 15,000. Now it turns out that work collectives can be offered a price of 7,000 drams for testing a specified number of people, meaning a wholesale price for testing services. This indicates that there is no state control over the prices of coronavirus tests, and there is theft occurring. If it is possible to test for 7,000 drams, then those conducting the tests must have received exorbitant profits over these two years. Testing has become a form of theft. And this is during the government that constantly uses the word 'people' and acts on behalf of the people.”