That was what I feared. It is the wrong number, misleading. Reality is that their version of 70% is actually less than 60%. That is no where near enough. UK did this, set the target based on an arbitrary percentage of vax eligible people having the vaccine. It is stupid. No epidemiologist that I've ever heard talk on this subject has given a recommendation of anything less than 90% of total population.
The outcome that matters is case numbers, especially numbers in hospital. Target should be based on case numbers, with the strong understanding that the faster the population gets vaccinated the faster those case numbers go down.
My concern is this narrative is being politicised by all parties but the opening up push is driven by idealogy and not scienced based with many Institutions and epidemiologists etc now coming out and disputing the Doherty assumptions and forecasts as these numbers grow. We need to not have our health relying on one research inst that experts in the field now question.
They've said how stupid would it be that you can fly to NY and not Perth.
But how stupid would it be to let, even a double vaxxed person with Delta, fly into Perth when they have no infections in that State.
That won't last too much longer where it doesn't spread but it seems unrealistic to expect the WA, Qld, NT, SA, Tas premiers sign their political death warrants with allowing C19 in at this stage. Its too premature to be considering it.
NSW and Vic and ACT need to get some control on their infections before we open up. If NZ had1200 infections a day, no one would be advocating we let them in so why would the infection free states do it (atm of course).
Australia has never had an appetite of accepting huge numbers of deaths, the overwhelming of health services and possible collapse, or consciously accepting children get Delta thru Govt decisions.
If this goes pear shaped the big pushers for this policy, will just step back like Homer into the bushes and let the States deal with it with us guys the meat in the sandwich to bear the brunt.
What McGown says makes sense. Why would they open up to bring in infection, the closing of business and be responsible for killing people.
It's all too depressing and out of control politicking with no sensible united plan taking in the realities of each State's situation.
Leadership is poor and just divisive at present.
People saying on here they're over it and I can't blame them but also this handling of our response is getting keystone cops like and very worrying.
Ol mate might be right. People are starting to get afraid. It doesn't inspire confidence with all the arguing going on between the Feds and States.