The stark truth about vaccines
The existing response to our Covid epidemic is a huge ticking time bomb that is not being fully addressed as a priority. Because of historic inaction we remain short of Pfizer vaccines, when it is imperative that the whole population should be urgently vaccinated to
achieve basic herd immunity from the virus. Added to this, resistance and complacency by a significant percentage of the population over vaccination is not only putting their own lives at risk but also endangering the entire population to fresh outbreaks of the virus. A situation where these self-centred, unknowledgeable people would nevertheless demand, and be entitled to, free hospital emergency care if they were affected.
Clearly there is a dilemma between acceptance of this unvaccinated group and the inevitable outcomes for the wellbeing of New Zealand as a whole. There has to be a choice, therefore, over 100 per cent compulsory vaccination or not — with a clear understanding of the dire consequences medically, socially and economically if this is not achieved. The question of basic human rights versus compulsory vaccination is the urgent and huge dilemma we face as a nation.
Additionally, an added priority are follow-up booster doses for those who are already vaccinated.
Dr Hylton Le Grice, Remuera.
No excuses over attack
Much effort has been made by Jacinda Ardern to persuade Kiwis that the proposed law change may not have prevented the New Lynn terror attack. For every day of her nearly four-year tenure, the PM knew this day was potentially coming and that the law was impotent. It seems 'S' was unique among terrorists in terms of the exceptional risk he posed, and the immediacy of that risk. It is clear that police needed a law change to have any hope of detaining 'S' lawfully and that Ardern knew that, too, for a considerable period.
A change of a few dozen words in our terrorism law would have given police a fighting chance of arresting 'S' and having him convicted and imprisoned before attacking seven innocent people. It seems that police and officials did all they could to bring the matter to the attention of this government but government failed to give police the legal tool they needed.
Ardern's pleas of frustration and claims of being "gutted" at this predictable incident are deflecting from the real issue. Wringing your hands in public now and taking urgent steps to change the law is simply too little too late. The Labour government, with a clear majority in Parliament, has no excuse for failing all New Zealanders, and especially the victims and their families. Let's hope they all make a full recovery.
Paul Jamieson, Remuera.
'Choice', and bad decisions
There has been a lot of discussion regarding one's choice to be vaccinated or not. Recently it was suggested that the port of Tauranga may introduce a "no jab, no job" policy. On TVNZ there was an interview with a port worker who claimed that having to be vaccinated to enable him to retain his job was in breach of his rights.
May I suggest the same person considers how he would respond to some other issues such as: if you wish to legally drive a motor vehicle you must have a licence; your choice — drive or don't drive. If you want to collect unemployment benefit you provide your personal details, ID, or whatever else Work and Income may require — it's your choice whether to provide the information or not, to receive the benefit or not.
There are many aspects of modern society that require choices, and where some choices may have poor outcomes for the majority of New Zealand society, serious decisions must be made.
Dick Ayres, Auckland.
Health system needs attention
I am right behind Sam Clements for his intolerance toward the ignorant, gullible and misinformed anti-vaxxers ( NZ Herald, September 4). However, I think there is a need to take it further. In this day and age we cannot afford to have free choice over whether or not other people's lives can be put in jeopardy because of a person's misguided belief.
Because people use the health system when needed, there should be no place for those anti-vaxxers who catch Covid then require acute hospital care. Why should they take precedence over those who have had the jab, or are medically unable, but need special hospital care?
However, a big callout to our government is also needed. There is a huge need to update our health system. Buy those beds, buy those ventilators, recruit more staff and, for goodness' sake, pay our nurses and care workers better. Give them a bonus first. You can praise as eloquently as you like, but it doesn't help with recruitment or retention, or the feeling of unworthiness they must feel being underpaid for such a stressful, lifesaving job.
Emma Mackintosh, Birkenhead.
