R>1

[d000hg]

So why not wait until everyone who wants it has been double-jabbed (including down to 12 year olds, for whom the vaccine is now approved)?

Surely it's parental choice for children? Or is that not the case? Lots of moral issues with vaccinating children.

[mookiemoo]

So why not wait until everyone who wants it has been double-jabbed (including down to 12 year olds, for whom the vaccine is now approved)? Our current restrictions are mild, so it would just be a case of continuing to support the few sectors left who are unable to operate at full capacity. Or is it a case of "got mine, don't care about the rest"?

I cannot remember the figures but over 80% (it might even be over 90%) of the deaths were in groups 1-6 who have all been double vacced. For the remainder, it generally no worse than a dose of the flu.

[SueEllen]

How long do you propose we have restrictions for? Indefinitely because there will always be people in that situation. They have always had to be careful even before Covid.

mattster has given you an answer.

Wait until everyone is double jabbed including children 12+

If we minimise the number of people who can spread it it means those who are vulnerable have more protection plus it helps ensure we have healthcare staff.

[SueEllen]

Surely it's parental choice for children? Or is that not the case? Lots of moral issues with vaccinating children.

Depends whether the child is Gillick competent.

If you want your 15 year old to have the vaccine and they don't want it, then healthcare professionals are legally obliged not to give it to them. (Works the other way round as well.)

[DealorNoDeal]

I cannot remember the figures but over 80% (it might even be over 90%) of the deaths were in groups 1-6 who have all been double vacced. For the remainder, it generally no worse than a dose of the flu.

Letting the virus run rampant is not without its risks, even if all the groups who are at risk of serious disease have been vaccinated.

The more virus there is in circulation, the greater the risk of it mutating to circumvent the vaccines.

FWIW, doctors and health experts in New Zealand think our Government is bonkers.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-b1883324.html

‘If you are going to train a virus to escape vaccine-induced immunity, you would do exactly what they’re doing’

[mattster]

Letting the virus run rampant is not without its risks, even if all the groups who are at risk of serious disease have been vaccinated.

The more virus there is in circulation, the greater the risk of it mutating to circumvent the vaccines.

FWIW, doctors and health experts in New Zealand think our Government is bonkers.

Yes, this is the big gamble IMO. We might get away with it (probably will), but the downside risk is enormous. Rampant virus in a heavily vaccinated population gives huge selective advantage to any mutant that can evade the vaccine. Make no mistake, this is an experiment, and although I have no doubt Bojo and friends will be slapping themselves on the back and crowing about what a great strategy this was if they get away with it, it is by no means certain that they will. And the subjects of the experiment - us - have not only not been consulted, we seem to be broadly opposed to it. What are the ethics of that?

[DealorNoDeal]

Make no mistake, this is an experiment, and although I have no doubt Bojo and friends will be slapping themselves on the back and crowing about what a great strategy this was if they get away with it, it is by no means certain that they will.

If it goes wrong, no doubt it will be our fault for not behaving responsibly.

[mattster]

If it goes wrong, no doubt it will be our fault for not behaving responsibly.

Correct.

[d000hg]

If it goes wrong, no doubt it will be our fault for not behaving responsibly.

Well yes, adults are responsible for their actions. Do you want mummy Boris telling you what you can do?

[mattster]

Well yes, adults are responsible for their actions. Do you want mummy Boris telling you what you can do?

The problem is that we're relying on other people to be responsible for their actions. As an example, it only takes a relatively small percentage to forego masks for mask wearing to become effectively useless.