Vaccination as a Matter of Security and Security Management in European Union
Purpose: Due to pandemic Covid-19, health security has grown into a key sectoral security area, and the virus, itself, the threat it carries and the fight against it have been securitized. One of the threads that is securitized is the issue of Sars-CoV-2 vaccination. The research aims to present securitization process on that field using the case of institutions of European Union. Design/Methodology/Approach: The authors analyzes the documents issued or signed by the Health Security Committee and the statements of its representatives regarding the vaccination process, its importance and method of carrying out in terms of the relationship between this issue and ensuring security. Findings: Vaccination against covid-19 is presented as a "security issue" and thus securitized. However, the process has several dimensions, the ways in which it is carried out and the goals that EU decision-makers want to achieve with it. The multi-level narrative and the ubiquitous language of threats make the administration of the dose of the vaccine much more important than just protecting one's own health, for which you can / should change the law, rules of the game and even influence the freedom of economic activity. Practical implications: Making an issue a security issue through the process of effective securitization brings with it a social consent to special (extraordinary) actions by political decision-makers, which may have an impact on the functioning of societies, including the observance of their rights. Therefore, it is important to recognize such processes and prevent possible abuse of securitization processes. Originality/Value: This is a complete research for the securitization process of the Sars-CoV-2 vaccination issue.