Most Poles support restrictions on entering public venues for unvaccinated people

A majority of Poles think that there should be some restrictions on people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a new poll.

The idea has also been backed by Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin. Nevertheless, unofficial reports suggest that, for now, the government does not intend to make access to certain venues and services dependent on vaccination.

In the questionnaire, conducted by United Surveys for Wirtualna Polska, almost 54% of respondents disagreed with the statement that there should be no restrictions on non-vaccinated people, while 41% agreed.

Despite a majority of respondents being broadly in favour of additional restrictions, there is varying support for specific measures. More than 40% said that those who have not been vaccinated should be barred from entering restaurants and cafes, while almost 55% disagreed.

Moreover, 34% of respondents said that vaccination should be required to use shopping malls, and 59% thought it should not. More than 30% supported limiting train travel for unvaccinated passengers, with more than twice as many (almost 62%) against the idea.

A majority (57%) were also opposed to restrictions on access to amusement parks and cultural institutions, while 37% were in favour. More than three quarters of people (76%) were against banning unvaccinated people from using medical centres. Around 21% disagreed with them, reports Wirtualna Polska.

While the government has so far not announced any plans for additional restrictions on those who have not been vaccinated, the idea was backed at the weekend by Jarosław Gowin, a deputy prime minister and the leader of Agreement (Porozumienie), a junior partner in the government, in an interview with Polsat News.

“I am a categorical opponent of compulsory vaccinations but also a categorical supporter of the French solutions,” said Gowin, referring to France’s requirement to present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result to access bars, cafes and shopping centres as well as public transport starting in August.

“People who do not get vaccinated endanger millions of Poles and Polish businesses,” said Gowin during the interview. He noted, however, that he “cannot guarantee” that such a decision would be backed by the “entire ruling camp” but said he “supported such solutions” himself.

“I believe that from the point of view of our responsibility for the future of the country, we should introduce such solutions,” he told Polsat News.

According to unofficial sources, the government does not currently have plans to prevent unvaccinated people from accessing venues in Poland as it “fears a social rebellion”, reports RMF24 today. Instead, however, it may tighten restrictions on customer numbers, which will not include people who have been vaccinated, as seen earlier this year.

Meanwhile, some institutions have independently set up requirements for vaccinations to access some of their venues.

The University of Silesia in Katowice has made it obligatory for students using its halls of residence. Its rector, Ryszard Koziołek, has written to students to warn that only those with a certificate showing they are fully vaccinated will be allowed to stay in university halls of residence in the coming term, reports Business Insider Polska.

Koziołek noted that staying in university dorms carried a heightened risk of infection amid the expected fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination will not, however, be required for presence at classes, “leaving it up to your responsible freedom and rational care for yourself and others”.

Most university courses in Poland have been taking place online since March 2020. Last month, legal experts expressed doubts over the legality of universities saying that vaccination was required to participate in fieldwork and internships.

Just over 18 million people in Poland have now had at least one Covid vaccination dose – almost 48% of the total population – and around 44% are fully vaccinated.

The country’s vaccine rollout initially proceeded at roughly the same pace as the European Union average, but since mid-June it has fallen well behind, with the government noting a “very disturbing” decline in registrations.

The authorities have tried various ways to encourage people to get the jab, including launching a lottery for fully vaccinated people with a one million zloty (€222,000) top prize. But the government recently confirmed it would have to sell tens of millions of unused doses to other countries.

Main image credit: Flickr/Ville de Genevilliers (under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Ben Koschalka

Ben Koschalka is a translator and senior editor at Notes from Poland. Originally from Britain, he has lived in Kraków since 2005.