Chapter 482: Mandatory Vaccination for Specific Groups, Any Objections?


    "So, promoting vaccination for all is for each and every one of us, for the health of our loved ones—any more questions?"


    "Yes!"


    Several hands were raised high across. The moderator looked at him and then at those opposite, banging the gavel:


    "Second row on the far right, the gentleman in the black coat, please speak!"


    "First, thank you for inventing the cowpox vaccine, which has protected the public’s health," said the man as he stood up gracefully, first bowing to Garrett. Garrett quickly returned the bow, and the man smiled slightly before continuing:


    "I have a question that I would like Master Nordmark to clarify—just as with preventing smallpox, do I have the right to decide what method to use? If I decide to use smallpox infection followed by the use of [Remove Disease] to acquire—"


    He paused, recalling the terminology used in Garrett’s thesis, then continued:


    "—to acquire immunity, then, can I be exempted from receiving the cowpox vaccine?"


    ...This definitely should be possible. The founding principle of the City of Mages is freedom—


    "All churches and the Magic Council, free citizens and their descendants, in any event and at any time, shall fully and completely enjoy the following freedoms..."


    This phrase was inscribed on the stone tablet of the Oath of the Alliance, located at the beginning of the mountain path leading to Igor Peak!


    Before Garrett could respond, several mages on either side of him nodded simultaneously. The man smiled and said:


    "Since there are exceptions, mandatory vaccination for all seems unnecessary. Mr. Nordmark, what is your opinion?"


    Luckily someone had raised this issue during the previous discussions. Garrett breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled confidently and turned to the clergy opposite him, bowing slightly:


    "Gentlemen of the clergy, I have a question. Accepting divine healing and recovering quickly can have certain drawbacks on a person, right?"


    The Church of the Nature God, the Temple of the Spring Goddess, several healers nodded gently. A bishop from the Temple of the War God bluntly said:


    "That’s right. Therefore, even if soldiers are healed by divine magic, they shouldn’t immediately return to battle. They need good food and rest for some time. This is common knowledge about divine healing, you should know this, why do you ask?"


    Uh... My lord, you’re too honest; I was just setting the stage for the next question. Garrett managed to ignore the laughter around him: As long as I’m not embarrassed, the embarrassment belongs to others. He looked directly into the eyes of the bishop and continued:


    "Then, if a young child receives excessive divine healing, could it overtax them and affect their future development potential?"


    "Uh..."


    Several healers exchanged glances. Priest Matthew from the Church of the Nature God was the first to speak:


    "Our treatments are mainly for the poor and underprivileged, so we don’t have much data on this. But from what I recall, some talented youths who were severely injured during their growth periods, even though healed, had their paths cut short."


    "We mainly treat warriors," the bishop from the Temple of the War God added as the second to respond. "Children who are not yet of age to train rarely come to us for healing."


    Well, there’s no data here. All eyes in the venue then turned to an official of the Spring Goddess:


    "As a goddess, the teachings of the Spring Goddess naturally include ’protecting mothers, infants, and families.’ Correspondingly, her divine magic involves more healing, purification, and disease removal than others." The official adjusted the end of his belt and hesitantly said:


    "Generally speaking, children who frequently require divine healing from a young age seldom become high-ranking warriors. But, perhaps they were inherently frail?"


    Being frail = lack of potential = at least unlikely to achieve much on the path of a warrior, this explanation made sense...


    "Agreed."


    Agreement was voiced unevenly. The moderator seized the opportunity, banging the gavel:


    "So, among those receiving relief, the implementation of mandatory vaccination, funded by the government, is there any opposition?"


    No one opposed. The cost for 40,000 people was just four thousand gold coins, a drop in the bucket compared to eight or nine hundred thousand, or even eighty or ninety thousand gold coins. Even if the nobles didn’t contribute, it was an easy burden for the city’s wealthy to share:


    Just skipping a few fancy meals or buying two fewer outfits, it’s not a burden.


    And honestly, the destitute also have value. The gentlemen could see clearly, establishing a poor relief system, supporting these destitute people, besides adhering to divine teachings, soothing the poor, and increasing social stability, also had practical value:


    Those living in the poorhouses had to work tirelessly every day. Even children aged six or seven had to sort thread ends and weave ropes suitable for cable making, doing whatever tasks they could;


    Those receiving external relief couldn’t get enough to eat with just that ration. To receive relief, they had to follow the directions of the poorhouse and work in the most exhausting and laborious jobs in workshops and shops to earn their keep;


    At worst, these destitute people could still have children! Once grown, the children could work in factories, join the military, or even go to the New World to claim territory! Population is an important resource for society!


    Compared to that, throwing in another silver coin per person as a one-time expense to ensure the previous annual silver coin didn’t go to waste was not a loss!


    "Next, mandatory free vaccination for infants born this year, any objections?"


    This too met no opposition. An infant’s death from smallpox meant a mother had


    to give birth again, occupying a fertile woman’s labor for a year—labor value far exceeding one silver coin. Not to mention the current high maternal mortality rate...


    After all, only a few thousand infants were born in Nevis City each year, a matter of a few hundred gold coins, affordable.


    "For those workers in close contact with the public, potentially spreading smallpox—such as coachmen, porters, restaurant servants, laundry women, tailors, garment and blanket factory workers—mandatory vaccination, any objections?"


    Silence filled the hall. Garrett looked around, understanding the gentlemen’s mindset clearly: these workers were most likely to spread disease, and for their own safety, it was best not to oppose...


    Well, immediate city-wide mandatory vaccination was not very feasible. Mandatory vaccination for specific groups, covering the most necessary protection, the plan was through!


    Garrett gave himself a mental thumbs up. Seeing the moustached city official finish speaking, he raised his hand and added:


    "Also, for those setting off for the New World, they should be vaccinated against cowpox before boarding. Any objections?"


    Those natives in the New World had the worst resistance! Sending over one smallpox patient by bad luck could wipe out a settlement!"


    Garrett felt he was far-sighted and made a lot of sense. Unexpectedly, Master Grom beside him coughed and said:


    "Master Nordmark, this kind of thing doesn’t need to be discussed at the conference..."


    Garrett: ???


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