As New Zealand gears up for its upcoming elections, the country’s interim Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, has faced sharp criticism for his remarks about the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.
In a widely-shared video on social media platforms, Hipkins remarked, “There was no compulsory vaccination. People made their own choices,” according to a report from Rebel News.
His statement, however, seems at odds with New Zealand’s stringent vaccine mandates.
Many critics argue that these mandates indirectly pressured many into getting vaccinated, given the severe consequences attached, such as job terminations and economic hardships.
Chris Hipkins, who stepped in as Prime Minister following Jacinda Ardern’s departure, is not the first global leader to face scrutiny over vaccine-related statements.
Leaders from other nations, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, have similarly posited that vaccinations were a matter of personal choice, thereby shifting any potential blame for negative outcomes onto the individuals who “chose” to receive the vaccine.
