I speak as someone who has had his first ^jab^ invite and will not be taking it up, thanks to the NHS for the offer though. I would not take it by any route, even mouth (tablets, drops, etc.) or nasal spray/mist/etc (like some other vaccines). It would not be the first time that I had declined something, although previously it was statins (as in cholesterol-lowering medication, in case you missed it), on the basis that it would not do much for me and likely have side effects. I will be watching like a hawk for any postponement of relaxation-of-restriction or renewal/continuation past a statutory review point due to supposed lack of vaccine uptake, certainly with the current enabling act in place as is. The logistics of changing it would also be awkward. If they did that, it could be seen as an unlawful requirement to receive medical treatment that would invalidate the regulation (Section 45E of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984).
There seem to be three themes:
1) People who are genuinely bothered that either the vaccine isn’t 100% effective, or that a new strain is going to emerge which subverts the vaccine.
2) People who think *everyone* should be vaccinated before things open up
3) People who want to big all this up in order to maintain the elements of their current lifestyle which they find agreeable. I think we all know what that is, so I’m not going to repeat it!
I can get the first one to a point, but equally such people need to realise that the logical conclusion is permanent lockdown, which isn’t viable. The second ones I think are just plain daft, and I would be breaking forum rules to put into words my feelings on the third group!
A lot of people seem to pay little regard to the wider consequences of all this, which I find rather selfish.
I am picking up a vibe that there is a core of people who seem to feel that the “new normal” (a term I despise in itself) is hibernation every winter. I suspect that we are going to find an element of pressure for this every time NHS admissions rise, as they do every winter. This needs to be strongly resisted, I for one do not want a way of life where we hibernate under a bed of restrictions every year from November to May.
On the first two, they have to recognise that some people will have to respect the fact that others do not wish to take a pharmacological treatment, particularly a relatively new one, unless it gives a substantial benefit to them and accept that there is going to be a small level of risk from that. After all, if "my body, my choice" is a good enough reason to have a certain other procedure then it is a good enough reason to decline vaccination. I would hardly call the likely outcome of 99.5%+ coronavirus infections produce only mild symptoms worth having a vaccination for. In fact, I will likely be letting future ones pass as well.
Why do the Government appear to assume that everybody has a smartphone. I have never seen any added guidance such as "If you haven't got a Smartphone.........."
This is an extract from the Daily Telegraph where a pub refused to serve an elderly man without a Smartphone.:-
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/13/older-drinkers-risk-discrimination-says-charity-pub-refuses/
The poll on the Telegraph vaccine passport item currently suggests 11% of people don't have a smartphone (and probably more who do but it is not compatible with the NHS app).
I was refused entry to one pub on the South Bank last summer because I didn't have a smartphone. There again another pub wrote my details on what looked like a doodle pad which would probably be shredded at the end of the day.
You have to wonder, if there was a campaign to get people to use smartphones, for the sake of it, then the Government could not do much better than they are now. I seem to remember hearing "never let a good crisis go to waste" once.
Can anyone here tell me why the man on the train believes that the presence or absence of a lanyard makes any difference at all to anyone at all.
I really cannot understand and can only think it is to appease people who are hard of thinking
To give the train manager his due he certainly knows that a lanyard is not important
When an exemption lanyard, or something like it, makes a difference to someone's view, you have to ask whether someone has not only taken the propaganda but proverbially swallowed it without question and gone back for more. Also, if it was recent then why was he bothering, over a virus that is retreating as well as can be expected?
Also, the whole eating/drinking business while on board rather undermines the point of having face coverings in the first place.
As for the loudmouth, I would like to see his response to "Why bother if I'm not going to take the vaccine?"
Come 21st June when these blasted social distancing and face mask wearing restrictions are due to be scrapped, that really should be it and supermarkets/shops, train/bus/coach operators, etc, etc will be no longer allowed to enforce these rules on their premises/vehicles. If it is the case though that businesses can optionally keep enforcing these restrictions if they so wish, then it is going to put a LOT of customers/passengers off from using these businesses/transport operators. I for one won't be using any supermarkets after 21st June if they still keep these nonsense restrictions going(along with their incredibly annoying PA messages going off every few minutes telling us we must wear face masks and socially distance), they can forget my custom! Same goes with coach and train operators, I won't be using them to travel with anymore(unless it's essential journeys I have to make and there are no alternatives). Many many people will be thinking the same as me!
The sooner the better, there is very little need for them even now; what is it that vaccinations are "breaking the link" (or should that be links) between cases, hospitalisations and deaths. If they have a monopoly or near-monopoly on a service that is essential or near-essential, such that "go elsewhere" is not an option, such a business would deserve to be dragged over the proverbial coals unless they can give a very good reason why such precautions and/or being vaccinated are/is necessary.
