//Imagine if it was smallpox.//
Vaccination against smallpox is not compulsory.
//….do you honestly think they'll prematurely release a vaccine which could potentially have hazardous consequences to people's health?//
I need a while to think about that. Let’s say about 1.5 seconds, that should do it.
Just on the legal side, it will take a change in primary legislation to make vaccination compulsory in the UK. Section 45 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 gives Ministers the power to make orders to control the spread of disease. This is the way that most of the Coronavirus regulations have been enacted. However, it specifically prevents Ministers from making orders for people to undergo compulsory medical treatment:
45E Medical treatment
(1) Regulations under section 45B or 45C may not include provision requiring a person to undergo medical treatment.
(2)“ Medical treatment ” includes vaccination and other prophylactic treatment.