Early today, a prominent broadcast journalist tweeted this
Based on current Aust data, your chance of death here from the AZ vax is 1 in 1.9M.
For context, Australian Geographic puts your odds of being struck by lightning at 1 in 1.6M.
You are more likely to be struck by lightning than to die of the AZ vax.
Don’t fear vaccination.
I have not verified the accuracy of the details in this tweet but ask that we assume it is true.
The data also seems to suggest, the chances of death from AstraZeneca is greater than the chances of death from catching Covid-19 in Australia.
That aside, what is holding us back from being vaccinated?
We are being encouraged to get vaccinated so we can achieve herd immunity.
That’s fine, but for many in the community, the 70 or 80 or 90% needed for herd immunity can be achieved with out “me” personally risking the vaccine. *
Besides, is it 70%, 80% or what? Either no one knows or isn’t saying.
There is another group of people who carry existing health issues making severe consequences of Covid-19 more likely. Inevitably, they have received very clear advice about this from their GP.
A friend recently shared their GP advice which was something similar to “You are not someone who would deal well with Covid. Get vaccinated now”. They did.
For many others, there is no perceived benefit to being vaccinated. They may desire herd immunity but believe this can be achieved without them.
If I am a fully vaccinated Queensland resident who was in Melbourne a week or so ago, I would have risked mandatory self-funded hotel quarantine on return.
How about fully vaccinated person on return only have to submit to a Covid-19 test and home isolation until a negative test is recorded. Would that be an incentive for people to vaccinate?
It would be an incentive for me.
Further. many of us would at least like the option to again travel internationally.
I read that travel is opening between the European Block Countries for those who are fully vaccinated. This is the report I refer too.. The fact that the individual is vaccinated combined with community vaccination rates appears to be the basis for such a decision.
I also read negotiations are progressing to allow travel between USA and UK based on similar conditions and vaccination rates. Click for the article .
Can we do similar?
Is it past time for the Federal Government to set some clear targets for allowing international travel to selected countries?
Would we have a greater incentive to vaccinate if there was a commitment to allow us to travel when we achieve 80% community vaccination?
Again, it would be an incentive for me.
A decision to vaccinate or not to vaccinate is a personal one and should be respected one way or the other.
Making our own personal decisions does not mean we should become evangelistic in support of or to justify our own decision. We cannot really know the reasons or the fears that contribute to another’s decision to vaccinate or not.
What I do believe is, right now there is a lack of personal incentive for many to act. I also believe the lack of clear leadership, mixed messages about the importance to vaccinate and it not being a race is confusing many.
Let’s have some clarity and lets have some incentive so fully informed decisions can be made by us all.
*By way of full disclosure, I have received my
first AstraZeneca vaccination and will have my second as per my booking.
