07-16-2021, 07:43 PM
(07-16-2021, 12:05 PM)danbrotherston Wrote:(07-16-2021, 10:45 AM)tomh009 Wrote: I think the question is, what measures are we, as a society, willing to accept for the long term, in order to keep this under control? (And, yes, that answer is likely very different for us and for our neighbours to the south.)
I think the only things that are needed to control it will be masking and mass vaccination.
This is easy, trivial to achieve, yet there is a significant segment of the population throwing an absolute on the floor screaming like a toddler tantrum about it.
So possibly we cannot achieve it. Ultimately, I'm not sure what the answer will be, but at a certain point, we have to get somewhere, and the biggest threat is the hospital system. Perhaps, people who refuse to vaccinate shouldn't get a bed when they get sick.
We might not achieve 'under control' as this is likely endemic now. As you mentioned, best bet is vaccinations and masking may have to stay in place, at least indoors.
Mind you, if it certain that Pfizer is safe for 11 and under, if that group is vaccinated at the same rate as the rest (looks like 85% is achievable), AND, we make it mandatory for health care workers to be vaccinated, AND, we make it mandatory for travellers to be vaccinated, AND, any large indoor gathering (NHL, OHL, concerts, etc) are only only accessible by vaccinated people, I think we'd make such a huge dent in covid that it will no longer be in the news, no longer discussed here, and most people will be happy.
We might need boosters on a regular basis. Maybe, at some point, media delivery will be a nasal spray or pill.
Our families last vaccination will be July 25th -- we'll all have two vaccines. I might ask for a 2nd Moderna though, as my first was AZ, and there might be issues with travel. While our government and PHAC is saying that mixed doses are OK, we seem to be outliers in that case. Hopefully they recommend a 3rd vaccination so we have matched vaccinations.