Vaccination still the best strategy to deal with Covid

The latest Covid-19 outbreak in Victoria has put a further focus on the pressing need to get the vaccine rollout moving. Mask wearing has been restored in Melbourne, gatherings limited, AFL ticket sales frozen and the trans-Tasman bubble suspended as state authorities scramble to get on top of the outbreak that stood at nine on Tuesday. Genomic sequencing has linked the nine to the case of a man who caught the virus in South Australian hotel quarantine before returning to Melbourne three weeks ago. Thankfully, as yet there has been no repeat of the kneejerk state lockdowns with resultant disruption to business and interstate travel. On Tuesday, health authorities in Victoria said they were confident that contact tracing was the best approach.

The outbreak is a reminder that elimination of the virus will not be possible. With winter fast approaching and the pandemic still running out of control in other parts of the world, authorities need to redouble their efforts to preserve Australia’s current good fortune. The best course of action remains a three-pronged strategy of quarantine, contact tracing and vaccination. Having lost momentum with the vaccine rollout, the federal government has been searching for ways to encourage people to get the jab. Vaccine hesitancy has risen alongside conflicting messages about the safety and efficacy of what is on offer. With international borders closed, success in suppressing the virus has left many with little obvious reason to get a jab. The Melbourne outbreak is a reminder that things can change quickly.

The bigger priority is to not be left behind as the rest of the world vaccinates and opens up to travel and business. The federal government has grappled with giving privileges to people who are vaccinated. This includes the possibility of priority international travel, less onerous quarantine requirements and free movement across states regardless of border closures. As Scott Morrison is finding, for freedom to be real it must be unconditional. The Prime Minister has come under fire from premiers and the business community over plans for a vaccine passport that would allow greater movement for those who have had the jab. The idea has a superficial attraction in that it would overcome concerns stopping many people from organising interstate travel. A major concern is of being trapped and unable to return home without quarantine. Under the plan, states would waive snap lockdown and border closure restrictions on people who had received their coronavirus jabs. State governments have pushed back over the potential loss of control. Business is worried about increased government interference. A practical concern is the difficulty in administering compliance across state borders. Many object to the creation of two classes of citizens. Mr Morrison has stressed there is no intention to use a vaccine certificate to restrict access to pubs and cafes, and he has noted the commonwealth would use it only for the international border.

For international travellers it is likely that a system of vaccine checking will be in place soon regardless of any actions taken here. The International Air Transport Association, a trade group representing 290 airlines worldwide, is developing an app called Travel Pass that would let users upload documentation to prove vaccination status. The IATA says 23 airlines, including Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and the parent company of British Airways, are already testing the technology. The federal government does not need to spend political capital on this issue. Ending state border closures, boosting capacity for quarantine of international travellers and encouraging, not forcing, people to get vaccinated remain the best responses.