Vaccinated ones should have more privileges and greater freedom

Vaccinated ones should have more privileges and greater freedom

In the last week, NSW has already over 70% of the 16+ population received the first dose of vaccine. It is expected that it will be the first state to reach 70% and 80% fully vaccinated. All the attention is now on how NSW will relax its lockdown and what will happen after then.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews had complained that Victorians were not given their share of vaccines and pleaded for a greater share to face the escalating infections in the state. The federal government has responded positively by allowing more of the newly obtained extra Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to be directed to Victorians. It is expected that Victorians who once had a long queue for booking for Pfizer vaccine in the past few weeks can shorten the waiting time shortly soon. We hope that the more Victorians being vaccinated, the faster the infections be suppressed.

Yes, we understand that vaccination is the only path for Australians to get out of the pandemic. Now the battleground will shift to a fight with vaccine hesitancy, that is how to convince those who are reluctant to be vaccinated, to receive the vaccine. NSW has proposed special privileges for fully vaccinated which I think is appropriate. There are some promoting rewards be given to encourage people to change their minds to receive vaccines at a late stage. I believe that it is un-Australian to reward those who have refused to vaccinate earlier to change.

The federal government has not spent much in promoting vaccination and community education. It should change its strategy by spending more to promote vaccination in areas of low vaccination rate, especially spend more to promote among CALD communities instead. However, financial rewards would not be appropriate as an incentive. Many Australians have demonstrated their support to this country in getting vaccinated. They are the people that should be rewarded instead. The approach by the NSW government is to be commended.

At this moment, the vaccination rate in Australia is limited by the supply of vaccines only. With the spread of Delta, a higher vaccination rate will be achieved before it is slowed down.

Regards,

Raymond Chow

Publisher, BlessingCALD