The coercive effect of the covid certificate

Abstract

The approval of Regulation (EU) 2021/953 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 14 June 2021, on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID- 19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate) to facilitate free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic, made it possible for Member States to introduce restrictive measures in their respective territories associated with the possession of such certificate. This work analyzes how these restrictions contribute to the socalled coercive effect of the COVID certificate, generating a climate of pressure on citizens to give their informed consent to the COVID-19 vaccine. Also, it tries to determine if such effect could be intimidation capable of invalidating the consent granted, thus violating the fundamental right to physical and moral integrity of article 15 of the Spanish Constitution.