Susie O’Brien: There is no justification for treating unjabbed kids like lepers

Upsetting scenes of kids crying after being locked out of sporting clubs is another example of Dan Andrews’ shoddy decision-making during Covid.

Victoria has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, so there is no justification for treating unjabbed kids like lepers and locking them out of sporting, social and retail venues.

Elation at the early opening up of our state, announced last Thursday, quickly turned to disbelief and anger for many parents of unvaccinated children aged 12 and up.

The arrogant Premier, too busy trying to get his unnecessary pandemic legislation through the parliament, didn’t give notice that kids aged over 12 years and two months would have to be vaccinated to enter a range of venues.

If he looked at his own data, he’d know that only 73 per cent of kids in this age group have had two vaccination doses, although 87 per cent of kids aged 12 to 15 have had one dose.

Some are the children of anti-vaxxers and are not jabbed for ideological reasons. But I’d suggest at least 15 per cent are slow-vaxxers rather than no-vaxxers, wanting to get more evidence of the impact of vaccination on children.

This is the lowest vaccination rate among all age groups, reflecting the relative lack of risk among younger people from the disease. Compared to older people, children are much less likely to be seriously ill or die from the virus, so this hesitancy is more understandable.

The arrogant Premier is too busy trying to get his unnecessary pandemic legislation through the parliament. Picture: Luis Ascui

The decision to ban unvaccinated kids above 12 from venues came as a shock to schools, sporting bodies and parents. Most believed that any mandate would only apply to those aged 16 and over. The road map released months ago had no detail about what the 80 or 90 per cent vaccination measures would look like.

The mandate was so sudden that some sporting clubs didn’t even know about it, meaning unvaccinated 12, 13 and 14-year-olds innocently turned up to play sport and were turned about at the doors of rec centres by security guards like criminals.

Parents had to take kids – who were set to play their first game for the season after months of lockdown – home in tears.

It is an appalling and callous way to treat children who have already been through so much.

The shockwaves continued over the weekend. Unvaccinated kids had to try on school uniforms on the footpath outside shops. Children were lined up outside Kmart like fugitives while they waited for their parents.

And then people worked out that the bans applied to school events such as graduations, camps and excursions held at external venues.

Some spent the weekend in tears as they worked out how to break the news that their son or daughter couldn’t join their friends at school events they’d waited 18 long months for.

Not only was it very upsetting and disruptive, it didn’t make sense given that schools are open to unvaccinated children.

A backflip was inevitable, and it came through on Sunday night.

The entire fiasco symbolises the shoddy government decision-making that’s been a hallmark of this pandemic.

It was like the unnecessary playground ban that caused so much hurt and was eventually overturned.

The about-face was welcome, but the vaccine mandate still covers kids’ sport. Community sports are mean to be exempted, but it’s not working out that way.

Kids up to 15 who are unvaxxed can go still to venues only used for community sport, but not at larger venues used by other patrons.

Such mandates should not rely on an accident of geography or venue size.

The inconsistent and incoherent rules mean many kids can train but can’t compete, can attend small venues, but not large ones, and can play outside, but not inside.

The vaccination mandate now stands to further isolate young people who aren’t vaccinated, despite the fact that we’ve met the magic 90 per cent benchmark without them being vaccinated.

Parents told me their unvaccinated children are being treated “like lepers and ostracised from their friends”.

One mother said her unvaccinated son was invited to a sleepover but asked to sleep in another room. Other said her daughter, who had a long history of depression and self-harm, was “in absolute despair” about not taking part in her beloved cheerleading championships.

These upsetting and needless mandates reflect the Andrews government’s arrogant and unilateral decision-making style.

There was no consultation, no warning, no foresight and no understanding of the impact on young people and their parents.

Our state has still reached 90 per cent vaccination rates for the over 12s, and we should be opening up to all Victorians, not just those who have had the jab.

At the very least, 12 to 15-year-olds should be free to play, socialise and have fun after eight long months of lockdowns.

Susie O’Brien is a Herald Sun columnist