Why we should fine COVID vaccine refusers
As the nation’s death toll rose to 447 today, the only glimmer of hope in this coronavirus war on our bodies, livelihoods and mental health has been the promise of a free vaccine available eventually to all Australians.But still the Covidiots don’t get it.
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Can there be anything more satisfying than the dangerous, hypocritical and unspeakably cruel anti-vaxxer mob in full self-combust mode at news that the rest of us — the sensible Australians — are delighted to hear?
The only national glimmer of hope in this coronavirus war on our bodies, livelihoods and mental health has been the promise of a free vaccine available eventually to all Australians.
That was delivered on Wednesday by the Prime Minister after he said a deal was signed with a UK-based drug company AstraZeneca, give or take some of the fine print to be ironed out.
In simple terms it would mean free access to its vaccine developed by the University of Oxford, should the phase three trials prove it is effective and of course safe.
Plus, Mr Morrison added, as mandatory as the government can make it.
A “day of hope” he called it.
But the anti-vaxxers were incandescent, paralysed by hate and spewing bile on social media from all angles as they realised the game was up.
Steaming away online were comments like “Death shots here we come. Line up team sheep. Can’t wait.” And “You know where you can stick that vaccine ScoMo! Give it to your squad but don’t you dare come near me or my family with that poison!”
The unnerving fact is that the majority of Australians will need to be immunised for the COVID-19 vaccination to work.
But if the anti-vaxxers want a fight, let’s give it to them.
These idiots, who insist they know better than the medical community, should be subjected to the most onerous of legal restrictions, especially losing their privileges to circulate freely out of their homes.
The same thing goes for politically minded conspiracy theorists and libertarians who think that being “forced” to take a jab is a restriction on their freedom, when in fact it is their ticket to freedom.
And all while the rest of us get back to our lives and flourish.
They should be punished with crippling fines if they infect others who, on medical grounds, cannot be vaccinated. A selfishness tax in effect.
And forget us taxpayers stumping up to pay their medical bills - those costs are on them.
Now the federal Government is also considering a strict no jab, no play policy for a COVID-19 vaccine which is an excellent development. No Jab No Jobkeeper is also a good idea.
I’ve said before that vaccine sceptics should be right at the back of the queue for that needle because after all they do not support this type of crucial research.
But we need to go harder if only to demonstrate to younger and future generations, our kids and theirs, that we exploited this opportunity to control COVID-19.
Four hundred and forty seven Australians are dead from coronavirus as I write this. These are people’s mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters and cherished extended family members.
Most have been denied the funerals their families
would have liked to hold in order to pay tribute to their loved one.
Four hundred and forty seven people who should not have died.
The vaccine deniers are howling into an echo chamber and that, too, is to be celebrated.
Any pragmatic Australian wants to be immunised from coronavirus.
And as the PM says: “There are always exemptions for any vaccine on medical grounds but that should be the only basis,” he said. “You have to do it for yourself, your family and for your fellow Australians.”
One of the things about COVID-19 is that it doesn’t discriminate. Nor will you know how bad it will be until you get it.
And this is because as a generation we have, to our utmost shock and horror, had to navigate life through a potentially fatal pandemic from coast to coast.
Anti-vaxxers are a symptom of the relatively disease-free 21st century — they never witnessed the pain and long-term effects of so called “harmless” childhood diseases.
And, of course, they are protected by those who vaccinate with the creation of herd immunity.
I hope you never have to witness a child enduring whooping cough, lying on a bed convulsed by a silent cough, face reddening, saliva frothing at their lips.
But the anti-vaxxers carry on with their mission of terrifying parents with fake research and blatant lies.
Acting chief medical officer Paul Kelly said he believed there would be “very strong take up” of the vaccine as it was the “absolute ticket” to get back to normal life.
“The first (campaign) will be a voluntary call for people and I’m sure there will be long queues — socially distanced, of course — for this vaccine,” he said.
And after our elderly, health care workers and emergency personnel are prioritised, I will be one of the first in the queue with my kids to get that needle in my arm.
If even a small percentage of Australians hold the view that vaccinating against COVID-19 is a waste because they don’t believe they are personally at risk, then we are in trouble.
Because they are missing the point. Vaccination is about creating a herd immunity, not merely protecting an individual. It has always been the goal.
What happened to good old Australian mateship and solidarity? What happened to the catchphrase “we’re all in this together”?
Our government needs to step up and flex its muscles.
There are many months until the vaccine is likely to become available which is ample time to build and pass some legislation with actual teeth.
The vaccine dodgers are fond of preaching on repeat that “Never before has it been more important to step outside of this indoctrinated ‘system’ and start doing your own research”.
The reality is that never before has it been more important to be vaccinated against coronavirus.
@whatlouthinks