We should give Pfizer jabs where they do most good

We’re giving our best life jackets to our strong young swimmers (“Over-50s rebellion threatens to derail vaccination program”, 28/5). The immediate aim of our vaccination program is not to prevent anyone getting even a mild infection, it is to prevent severe illness and death among those most at risk, overwhelmingly the over-60s. It is insane that we are offering our more effective (and safer) Pfizer vaccines to healthy 40-year-olds while millions of older Australians are being told they can have AstraZeneca or nothing. I agree with the author: stop vaccinating all under-50s now (with the exception of those with high-risk occupations or medical conditions). Instead, put those precious Pfizer vaccines where they will do the most good – in the arms of older and sicker people, who are at much greater risk from this virus.

Anthony Pane, Brisbane

Cameron Stewart tapped into the psychology of Victoria (“The world’s most liveable city resembles a poorly run police state”, 28/5). What has often been promulgated is the absurd notion that the only thing that stands between millions of Victorians and a hideous death from a remarkably intelligent virus is a cohort of middle-level bureaucrats making erratic decisions. Small businesses are the financial engine room for any state government, but who in Victoria would invest when businesses can be swiftly shut down due to a handful of new cases of a virus that has such a high recovery rate for those under 75?

Peter Waterhouse, Craigieburn, Vic

Reports that President Joe Biden has ordered a probe into whether the Covid-19 virus originated from the virus lab in Wuhan is welcomed but 15 months too late. This hypothesis surfaced well over a year ago. Because president Donald Trump supported the theory, his political opponents, including Biden and most of the mainstream media, took an opposing view, weaponising an issue that should have had bipartisan support. Those who deliberately delayed calling Beijing to account have derailed fair discussion; the Wuhan origin story is critical to understanding how to deal with future pandemics and how to better run dangerous bio-labs.

John McLeod, Sunshine Coast, Qld

The results are now in on Covid vaccinations. In countries where there has been significant uptake, the results are nothing short of astounding. In the UK, where 62 per cent of the population has received the first jab and 38 per cent the second, new cases have dropped from 60,000 per day in January to 2513 per day, a reduction of 96 per cent. Deaths have reduced over the same period from 1290 per day to seven per day, a reduction of 99.5 per cent. In the US, where 50 per cent of the population has received the first jab and 37 per cent the second one, new cases have dropped from 250,000 per day in January to 20,000 per day, a reduction of 92 per cent. Deaths have reduced over the same period from 3300 per day to 520, a reduction of 84 per cent.

John Fry, Port Sorell, Tas

Like Scott Morrison’s public support for the Victorian snap lockdown, your editorial is a balanced response to what is a heavy blow dealt on small business in Victoria, and on the liberties of all in this state (“Lockdown must be a blip, not onset of a grim winter”, 28/5). The reminder of the Andrews government’s past failings in quarantine and contact tracing, alongside the shining beacon of the NSW success, is also appropriate amid Labor’s pile-on against Morrison. We should recall that at national cabinet the states assumed responsibility for quarantine but unilaterally usurped the right to close internal borders. Lack of urgency has been evident in vaccine rollout and take-up, but the blame should be shared. It is ironic that only three weeks ago the complaint against Morrison from left and right was his delay in allowing the return of those in India with Australian resident status.

John Morrissey, Hawthorn, Vic

There needs to be a better structure around how travellers are impacted by Covid outbreaks. Taking Victorians off the Ghan and forcing quarantine is a tough step and will cause many doubts about travel and plans. Western Australia shutting out Victorians from flying into WA/Perth from Darwin even though they have not been in Melbourne for over a week is an over-reaction and harms tourism and travel plans. WA is a cruel place and has no logic around its Covid aims.

Stuart Davie, Corowa, NSW