Originally posted by clackers In Australia, we are facing up to one third of the public being 'vaccine hesitant'.
It's a combination of the usual anti-vaxxer mentality with the fact that we have no coronavirus cases (other than those flying into the country and ending up in 14 day supervised quarantine).
So, it's disturbing that this mix of fear and complacency means we could fail to reach herd immunity.
I look at it as a self correcting problem. The vaccinated people will put this pandemic behind them, the unvaccinated will most assuredly all catch the plague at some point, either helping the rest of us reach herd immunity or die trying. Either way, they too will put the pandemic behind themselves eventually.
I think that while anti vaxxers aren't going to earn respect, their decision has to be accepted. While I don't agree with their risk assessment, I accept that they have the right to refuse to have a foreign substance injected into their bodies if they prefer to not be injected.
We are, after all, supposed to be a free society.
What I don't agree with is what will be the anti vaxxers' insistence that their decision comes without consequences.
It won't surprise me if countries that have insurance for pay to play health care will see insurance companies make covid vaccinations a requirement for coverage.
It won't surprise me if private carriers such as airlines demand proof of vaccination prior to boarding an airliner.
It won't surprise me if employers make vaccinations mandatory if a person wants to work for them.
Health care in my country is paid for out of the public purse, and it offends me to help pay for treatment for people who refuse that which can keep them from getting sick.
I fully expect the anti vaxxers to scream blue murder when they find out what their decision is going to cost them if any of what I predict comes to pass.