Dear members of the Riigikogu!
The coronavirus situation in Estonia is once again extremely critical. As probably all Estonian people did, I hoped that we would not end up here again. Like most people in Estonia, I did everything I could to make sure that the worst was over, but unfortunately, this is not the case.
During the first wave of the coronavirus, it was essentially enough to tell people to keep their distance from each other. During the second wave, we knew more about the virus and people were less scared because the majority did not get sick or recovered without severe symptoms. As a result, there were more hospitalisations, but we were able to cope with extensive restrictions.
Most people realised for the first time the extent to which we are dependent on each other – within our society as a whole, but also within smaller groups. Even when taking a bus or having dinner together. One person can ruin the lives and health of dozens of people by chance and without even knowing it. However, they can also cause suffering through negligence. Fortunately, most people have prevented dozens, perhaps even hundreds, from becoming ill thanks to their own sense of responsibility during this distressing pandemic. I am extremely grateful for that!
Vaccines are now available to everyone, and the majority have made their contribution to protecting themselves and the society as a whole. Thanks to the vaccines, the third wave has changed who the minority is that we need to protect. In the first two waves, the elderly needed the most protection. Now, we must focus on those who have not been vaccinated.
In May, the European Commission conducted a Eurobarometer survey on attitudes towards vaccination. When we compare those results to the vaccination levels that countries have now reached, the extent to which they correlate with what was predicted in the spring survey is surprising. We, too, have stayed exactly at the level that was predicted in May. The spring forecast said we would reach 58 per cent, and that is the case at the moment.
According to studies by behavioural scientists, the people who have not gotten vaccinated are against vaccines or just hesitant towards them. People who oppose vaccines are confident in their beliefs, and no matter what someone does or says, it will not make them change their minds. However, we can try to convince those who are hesitant. Studies show that the main concern of these people is the fear of the side effects of the vaccine. Fear is too strong an emotion to simply say, ‘Do not be afraid!’. We have proposed various solutions in cooperation with behavioural scientists to help these people overcome their fears. We have opened hotlines and conducted motivational interviews to try to reach the core of their fears. We invite lecturers to speak about how vaccines work. It all takes an insane amount of time and, unfortunately, many of these people contract the disease before they finally decide to get vaccinated.
There are many myths about vaccines and the coronavirus. One of them is that vaccines do not really protect you from the virus because vaccinated people also die. It is true that the vaccine does not make you immortal. The more vaccinated people we have, the more deaths there will be among those who have been vaccinated. The point of vaccines is that they help to save lives. Comparing the data, we see that an unvaccinated person is 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalised than a vaccinated person and an unvaccinated person aged over 60 is three times more likely to die than a person of the same age who is vaccinated.
On the one hand, some might say that we should let those who do not want to protect themselves suffer and that we should not worry about them. I do not agree with this approach. People who have not been vaccinated are still our people, and together with doctors and scientists, we will do everything in our power to calmly convince them by presenting the relevant evidence.
It is our duty to treat everyone who is seriously ill. Unfortunately, some people end up in the hospital and require ventilators to be able to breathe. COVID-19 is an infectious disease, which means that these patients must be isolated from others.
Unvaccinated people who have contracted COVID-19 are more contagious than vaccinated people, have more severe symptoms, and are more likely to require hospitalisation for longer. Our hospitals mostly have to treat unvaccinated people. Although only a third of people are unvaccinated, they make up 69 per cent of those in hospitals with symptomatic COVID, and 76 per cent of those who are currently hospitalised and have required intensive care are unvaccinated.
If more and more COVID patients have to be hospitalised, the provision of other health care services must be suspended. We have to make tough choices – first, we are forced to postpone scheduled surgeries, such as for patients with problems with their hips and joints, and cardiac surgeries. These people cannot choose whether or not to have the disease and they need treatment. COVID-19 patients can protect themselves through vaccination so that they do not suffer from the disease as severely and end up in the hospital.
Some politicians have cruelly said that in order to protect freedom, some people must die. I do not agree. This kind of disregard for people and the normalisation of the deaths of older people is extremely cynical. People are not immortal, but they should not die the painful death caused by the coronavirus. In addition, COVID endangers the lives and health of other people.
Some members of the Riigikogu say that there is enough room in hospitals and we do not need to worry about that. The issue is not with the number of beds. We can add beds to hospitals. The issue is with the lack of people working in COVID departments. COVID departments need two teams of medical staff as safety equipment must be worn.
This is hard work and our medical staff are no longer willing to work in COVID departments. We cannot force them and so, the hospital managers are under pressure from both sides – on the one hand, they are dealing with workers who no longer want to do the work, and on the other hand, they have to treat more and more patients. The government decided to increase the compensation for COVID beds by 75 per cent, but even money no longer motivates these people.
If a member of the Riigikogu thinks there are no problems in our hospitals, I can organise a visit for you to a COVID department so that you can see with your own eyes the work these people have to do and the way these patients suffer from a lack of oxygen.
The Estonian medical system is currently in a difficult situation and it needs support and a peace of mind to overcome it. There is a general consensus in the Riigikogu on issues such as national defence: none of us disputes the fact that to preserve our independence, we have to stay in NATO and make investments in defence. I urge us to find a similar consensus on supporting the medical system. I do not want anyone to demonise, attack, or threaten the medical workers who are doing all they can to protect our people. I wish our doctors and nurses all the best.
Although about one third of Estonians have not been vaccinated, they make up about two thirds of those in hospitals with symptomatic COVID. Therefore, we must restrict unvaccinated people so that they do not get sick and end up in the hospital. Otherwise, the society as a whole will suffer. The Constitution explicitly states that no right is absolute. Fundamental rights can be restricted if this is necessary to protect others and prevent the spread of infectious diseases, and that is exactly what is happening at the moment.
Today, a number of new control measures entered into force, aimed at reducing the burden on the hospital network. As of today, only vaccinated adults and those who have recovered from COVID-19 can participate in activities that require the COVID certificate. This change covers adult sports, training, youth work, hobby activities and education, and refresher training and refresher courses. People who have not been vaccinated or recovered from the disease may no longer participate in sports competitions and sports and exercise events, go to public saunas, spas, swimming pools, water parks, conferences, theatres, concerts and cinemas, consume entertainment services, attend museums and exhibitions, or dine on site in catering establishments.
Unvaccinated people are restricted from accessing events and activities that require the COVID certificate because they have a very high risk of infection and, when infected, spread the virus more than vaccinated people. In addition, they are at a high risk of having more severe symptoms and being hospitalised.
The obligation to wear a mask is also stricter now. People without masks are no longer allowed in sales or service areas. Wearing a mask is strictly recommended for both vaccinated people and those who have recovered from the disease at events that require the COVID certificate. It is required to wear a mask, preferably a medical mask, and the mask can no longer be replaced by covering the mouth and nose with a scarf, collar, or something else. This is necessary because the delta strain of the coronavirus is significantly more contagious than the virus strains from the beginning of the pandemic.
These measures will be valid at least until 10 January.
What are the next steps? Are the control measures in place sufficient? I truly hope that following these measures will be enough to overcome this situation. We know that people who became infected before the new restrictions were introduced will possibly have to be hospitalised in a week or two. Therefore, the government must be ready for the next steps. Let me remind you that there were people during the spring wave who demanded extremely severe restrictions and the declaration of an emergency situation. Looking back, we were right to stick to more liberal restrictions.
For the rules to work, they must be followed. Most people follow them. We have increased the number of patrols and inspections, but it is in all of our interests to follow the rules. This way, we can keep our schools and businesses open and people can get the help they need from hospitals.
Our goal is to keep society as open as possible and to allow hospitals to help everyone, not just COVID patients. If your decision not to get vaccinated is final, please be especially careful and avoid any contact until the spread of the virus has started to decline again. We would like to be like the Nordic countries, where most of the restrictions have been lifted today. They have been able to take these bold steps because their vaccination rates are so high, especially among the elderly. Paradoxically, it is our ‘freedom fighters’ who prevent the whole of society from moving towards full openness.
Let us care about ourselves and our people, and help health care workers as much as we can! Severe COVID symptoms and deaths are avoidable. I would like to thank everyone who has already gotten vaccinated, everyone who follows the rules, and everyone who is working hard!
