Message from the Publisher
Public support of vaccination
Public support of vaccination
Last Saturday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has tightened and extended the lockdown to all parts of NSW. Police will be patrolling in Sydney to ensure Sydneysiders are obeying the rules during the lockdown. It is clear that the expanding number of infected cases will not stop unless the movement of the people can be further reduced.
On Monday, Premier Daniel Andrews in responding to the loosen gatherings found in the public area including parks, outside of pubs, and people neglecting their duty to isolate in organizing private parties or large meetings last weekend has imposed further lockdown restrictions and a curfew from 9 pm to 5 am next day. The lockdown of Victoria will be extended (at least) to 2 September.
The reasons behind these further restrictions are simple. People are not obedient and are in isolation which results in an increase of cases found to be still in the community while infected. Melburnians and Sydneysiders are simply becoming fatigued to lockdown. The only solution the governments can provide is to speed up vaccination to 70% and 80% of the population, hoping that majority of the vulnerable be protected with those seriously ill and death cases be reduced to a minimum. It is also hoped that transmission of the virus will be slowed down if more people are vaccinated.
Fortunately with a greater supply of vaccines including the Moderna vaccine which will start to be used in September, will help speed up the vaccination rate. But this is only possible when the government can work with community leaders to promote vaccination, especially among CALD communities.
The government should invite community organizations to allow them to have more input to promote vaccinations. CALD community leaders are influential and trusted by their respective communities. These leaders should be entrusted with the role to convince others to be vaccinated. The governments should show leadership and invite more public support for vaccination.
Raymond Chow
Publisher, Blessing CALD