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The anti-vax conundrum

Could it be that at the beginning of the pandemic, some who chose not to be vaccinated did so for no reason other than they’re stubborn by nature, or have the need-to-be-different syndrome.

Now that we are entering the phase whereby those who are not jabbed will have their liberty thwarted, they’re in a quandary.

Some would still not get protected as sheer arrogance and face-saving take hold. The old adage ‘‘pride before a fall’’ comes to mind.

How the Ministry of Health tackles this one, who knows. Robert (Bob) Bicker, Gulf Harbour

In 1976, at the age of 17, I started my nursing career having to have vaccinations. Unfortunately, I ended up in hospital for 10 days after a lifethreatening adverse reaction event to the smallpox vaccine.

The family doctor had assured my mother and I that it would be ‘‘all right’’.

My specialist said how lucky I was, even though my face, eyes and head were covered in ‘‘the pox’’.

Forty-five years later and nearing the end of my career serving this country, I now find myself in a similar position, being forced to have the Covid vaccine or face the possibility of losing my job.

I asked many of my younger colleagues if they would consider having the Covid vaccine whilst pregnant . . . all of them said ‘‘No’’.

I would like the Government to mandate adverse reaction reporting by doctors to CARM (Centre for Adverse Reaction Monitoring) because as serious as my adverse reaction event was, it was never reported to CARM.

Maria Thomas, Christchurch

We are told getting vaccinated will protect our family and the community. This is not so.

My vaccinations likely protect only me from the worst outcome.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m double-vaccinated and firmly believe everyone should be. But don’t be fooled. I can still catch, carry without symptoms, and infect others. How does that protect my family and the community?

If I’m allowed into Rhythm & Vines by showing proof of vaccination I may have recently become infected. Only proof of a recent test, plus testing at the gate, will reduce the chance I’m a likely spreader.

The aim of 90 per cent double vaccination is laudable but it’s unlikely to be enough.

Gary Ferguson, Auckland

Epidemiology experts pop up everywhere, (basically) telling us to hide in the basement until the virus is gone. They are assessing only one of aspect of the lockdown. Other aspects must also be considered. The mental health of locked-down people, the functioning of the education system, and last but not least, livelihoods.

When all these factors are included the best decision may not please the most conservative epidemiologist but be well received by the majority of the people.

Vaccination rates are now getting very high and more and more countries are opening up. With 90% vaccinations achieved, it will be time to move to level 2 for all of the North Island and move even further for the South Island. Give the people their lives back, please!

Frank Olsson, Auckland

Shame on ACC

I always look forward to reading Alison Mau’s excellent weekly column, and her ability to get my hackles up.

They’re way up after reading about Roger Allison’s continuing battle to get accident compensation support due to a ‘‘technicality’’. That sort of inside-the-box thinking happens way too often with ACC, which is supposed to be there to protect us.

If one were to compile a list of all the other cases rejected on similar shaky grounds by ACC, such information would fill a very large book.

Absolutely appalling, and all of us deserve better – but especially Allison.

Janet Brennan, Kerikeri

Species decline

Andrea Vance’s feature (‘‘The price of fish’’, Focus, October 17) may well be highlighting the trouble other species are in, since humanity’s industrialisation took over this planet, but we precious humans have problems too, because one tiny virus locked us up.

It’s almost as if we’ve forgotten how apex predators like tuna keep the ecological balance in the vast oceans. And, that our largest albatross may not be around when the next generation of our species is born. This is something we conveniently forget when it comes to tuna sushi.

But hey, as long as we emerge out of this Covid-style prison unscathed, nothing really matters.

A few less species is neither here nor there . . . as long as it’s not ours!

Rene´ Blezer, Taupo

Men of few words

I agree with Dean Donoghue (Letters, October 17) who, commenting on the gender-neutralising of language, suggests that some genderneutral titles (eg ‘‘waitstaff’’ and ‘‘birthing people’’) don’t work very well.

Despite the thoroughness of the gender-neutralising

Opinion

en-nz

2021-10-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

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