Everyone deserves to be free at 90 per cent double dosed

Dan Andrews must realise that his overbearing bullyboy routine is not going to badger the remaining unvaccinated to get the jab.

The premier’s paternalistic overreach continues unabated.

Unvaccinated Victorians should not be treated like outcasts once we reach 90 per cent vaccinated rates.

There is no justification for continuing the division between the vaccinated and unvaccinated past this point.

So why has Premier Daniel Andrews indicated he will continue punishing the unvaccinated well into 2022 by stopping them from going shopping or travelling or visiting their parents in aged care homes?

While I don’t agree with their choice not to protect themselves from the virus, I don’t think they should continue to be treated like pariahs once we meet 90 per cent coverage.

The roadmap has changed, so we are now aiming for 90 per cent vaccination of those over 12, not over 16. This gives us even more protection.

Vaccine protesters in Spring St on Wednesday. Picture: David Crosling

This treatment of unvaccinated people puts us out of step once more from other states like NSW, where the division between the vaxxed and the unvaxxed will disappear at 90 per cent on December 1.

“We won’t be doing that here,” Andrews said.

When asked when we would relax restrictions between the two groups, he said: “I cannot put a day on it … it will not be when we reach 90 per cent. It will not be anytime soon. That is going to function for a period of time, well into 2022.”

This is not about sound science or following the best medical minds, it’s about keeping Victorians in the clutches of government control as long as possible.

Daddy Dan doesn’t want to let go. He doesn’t want us to be completely free, but to be reminded of what we owe him every time we got into a shop, aged care home or concert.

It’s family dysfunction playing out at an executive government level. We shouldn’t be surprised; this is the attitude that led us to become the most locked-down city in the world and endure some of the most draconian executive emergency powers anywhere.

Dr Nick Coatsworth is worried mandating vaccines will cement the beliefs of the reluctant.

The premier needs to realise that mandates blocking the unvaccinated punish us all. Having to show proof of vaccination adds another layer of complexity to simple tasks, such as going to the movies, or watching live sport or even popping into a shop.

Andrews has said he’s doing it because unvaccinated people make up the majority of people getting very sick with Covid.

This is true, but keeping them on the margins of our society should not continue one day longer than necessary.

The premier needs to realise that his overbearing bullyboy routine is not going to badger the remaining unvaccinated to get the jab. If anything, it’s going to give the conspiracy theorists more ammunition in their fight against government control.

Former deputy chief medical officer Professor Nick Coatsworth is right that barring unvaccinated people from freedoms into next year could cement their beliefs around vaccines.

“If you wanted to encourage people to believe that the government was against you if you didn’t get the vaccine, this is exactly how you would behave,” he said.

Evidence from overseas suggests half of the vaccine refusers are concerned about the health side effects and want to wait until they believe it is safe.

About a third have more conspiratorial health concerns, citing government cover-ups, and 20 per cent don’t think they need it. Only a small per cent have legitimate medical concerns covered by exemptions.

Many people in the first category got across the line because they had to be vaccinated to keep working or volunteering. They’re not happy about getting vaccinated, but they felt they had no choice.

The premier needs to realise that by 90 per cent, we’re done. We deserve to be rid of the overreach of government intrusion in our daily lives. We played our part by getting vaccinated. Now, he needs to play his part by ensuring our freedom is absolute, not continually conditional.