Several local governments including those in Zhuozhou city in Hebei province, and Zhongxian county in Chongqing have reportedly issued notices saying people who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 without a valid reason will have their personal score in the social credit system lowered.

Despite being well intentioned, the move, however, is against the principle of the National Health Commission that vaccination should be "voluntary".

Some local governments may implement strict measures to ensure there is no resurgence of COVID-19 cases, but they cannot do so by violating the NHC principle. If people have some misgivings about being inoculated, the local governments should counsel them so they understand the necessity of getting the jabs.

Some community level bodies have been reportedly delivering eggs to people who have taken the jabs. Though not ideal, it's at least a way of encouraging people to take the jabs.

The move by the local governments also violates the social credit system, which encourages people to honor their contracts and clear their debts and loans in time. By linking vaccinations to people's personal score in the social credit record, the local governments are abusing the provisions of the system. The social credit system should be protected from such misuse.

Besides, coercing people to get vaccinated will in no way improve the vaccination rate. Instead, it might make people suspicious and even more reluctant to get the jabs, which would be a crying shame considering there is no other way of effectively preventing and controlling the pandemic.

Everybody needs to get the jabs, so long as their health allows them to. We hope a more trust-based equation develops between the local governments and the people, and more people get vaccinated voluntarily.