Slow Vaccine Rollout leading to delayed re-opening of Borders

I am surprised no one has brought this hot topic up considering most of us (prior to Covid) were frequent travellers taking overseas trips.

For me i am hearing an alarming increasing number of people say they won't be taking the vaccine as "closed borders" are keeping them safe instead.

With vaccine hesitancy and zero tolerance for any covid cases - I cannot see us opening up even if the entire country is vaccinated.

Constant suggestions of "Japan, Taiwan and Singapore" travel bubbles is all good and well to try and remain positive but I think we need to be realistic and realise it's most likely not going to eventuate until at least mid 2022 or even beyond!

Japan is currently recording over 6000 cases a day and Taiwan recorded just over 16 new local cases and Singapore 10 new local cases - which here in Australia would prompt an instant 5 day lockdown at the very least.

Do you think we should re-open borders once we are all vaccinated or keep closed - it all depends on the level of risk we are willing to accept/take.

Very disappointed to hear that the Aussie border is likely to be closed until mid 2022. Here in the UK we have approximately 2/3rds of the adult population with first vaccination, half of which have also had their second one. The rate of new infections has diminished and our NHS now seems to be able to cope.

Is it realistic to attempt to eradicate a "natural" virus which appears to be the Aussie Government stance? If so I don't see mid 2022 as a happening date. Suspect that you might need to add a further 20-30 years on. Remember there was a world wide attempt to eradicate polio which still has not happened!

My own view is that all countries and individuals need to accept a certain level of risk in order to open up trade, tourism and life in general.

I must admit I am bemused at the almost weekly “Singapore is next” articles. The reality is until Australia changes its risk profile it isn't going to happen.

The reason why? SG & HK are rarely at zero cases therefore Australia would never want to bubble with them sadly. Our risk profile must change we are the outlier as more and more Countries are realising zero cases isn't really achievable

The detail is in the fine print “The SG/HK bubble will be suspended if there is more than 5 unlinked cases in the community per day over a 7 day average”

I can't see Australia / NZ agreeing to that unless we get over this zero case thing.

I would love to bubble with as many countries as possible especially in SEA. But until our risk criteria changes these countries would not meet our zero case requirements.

Pursuing suppression we should be looking to open travel bubbles with e.g. the UK, this year. However, I think we will be waiting until after the election for that.

This fascist government is using borders as leverage and fear tactic against the population, as opposed to developing a plan to engage with the rest of the world.

Something I would expect from hermit kingdoms and the Soviet Union. Never thought would see this in a supposed democracy like Australia.

The answer is to have your vaccine asap. My local surgery isn't offering covid vaccines, so as soon as over 50's qualified I looked for an alternative. If you live in Brisbane, the South Bank Respiratory Clinic or Southbank Family Medical Centre has oodles of appointment available. They have four of five staff doing jabs at any one time. You could even find a free time today.

The whole world out there is like India. All 200 countries. Let’s scare the population by using the lowest common denominator. Foreigners = bad.

I think he was referring to "After" all Australians are vaccinated then the severity of the diseases reduces from fatal to reduced sickness (such as a few days in bed).

With this we as a nation have to decide do we open up or remain closed - it will depend on the level of risk we are willing to take.

How is that a valid statement ? The borders should be opened up once the high risk people are vaccinated. What ScoMo is asking for is that borders remained closed until there are zero cases globally .

Not everyone is going to get vaccinated. PERIOD. When a state premier is bold enough to challenge their partly vaccinated population, only then will we see international travel from infected countries into that state without quarantine. But I doubt that any state premier will do the challenge test any time soon. The challenge test is to allow the population to be exposed to a virus, and hopefully the ICU's don't fill up. So I doubt that the 14 day mandatory quarantine will be abandoned until at least end 2022.

Once we know how sick vaccinated people get, and the word from colleagues in India is that it is a heavy cold at worst, but quite common. There those being hospitalised are the unvaccinated. I’ve heard of a case in Indonesia when an older vaccinated person went to hospital for a few days but no oxygen. I’m sure by the end of the year when we have more certain data on this then things will open up for those vaccinated and home quarantine for a week or so. Maybe I’m just being delusional GoRobin.

I keep getting automatic email updates with replies to previous comments and see this thread has generated lots of comments.

Frequent travellers - please get vaccinated now if you can. The second dose can only be administered 12 weeks after the first (with virtually no exemptions). My partner and I have appointments for our second jab. We will be fully vaccinated in August. That means if a travel bubble opens up, my partner and I are right to go. While I might not have had possible bubble countries such as South Korea, the Cook Islands, Taiwan on my dream destination list (no offence - you look like great places to visit), if they let me in, I'll go. Be prepared - vaccination is a three month process. If you are 50+ or even turning 50 in the next few weeks, make your appointment now. It's not hard to find a clinic with available appointments.

Reading the above and this is why ET have to ban comments on articles.

@Travellez - are you surprised now why you hadn't seen this brought up - as commentary to these articles about travel bans etc are not allowed.

Also...Aus will never be like India - that's a scare tactic comparing a first world country to a 3rd world systemic class system where local rivers are used to wash and the poor have next to no chance to access health care. Also aren't they like 1 billion + compared to 20+ mill in Aus?

I live in Qld.. the vaccine run out here is SLOW. Fortunately my GP clinic has joined up and are getting the magnificent total of 50 doses per week. Fortunately I'm on the list for next monday (17th). I am looking forward to hopefully going o/s in the second half of next year when vaccine levels around the world are much higher than now.. eg England/Germany/Netherlands/Denmark etc.

Incidentally I am on an obscure international web site.. reading comments from members who have had 2 shots.. the Moderna one seems to rate best with regard to after effects. Nevertheless most on this site (only 70,000 members) are really looking forward to the hope of living a "normal" life again. Travel and enjoying life again.

Of course we need to have open borders as soon as vulnerable people are vaccinated. We may still have some form of quarantine in place (say at home) while the bulk of population is getting vaccinated. Not everyone would get a vaccine - its their choice but general population can not be held hostage to those irresponsible individuals.

The Government is not doing its job on vaccination. Moreover, they don't want borders to open any time soon as it masks the failures and brings political gains (like it was in QLD and WA).

I am really puzzled with the lack of outrage over closed borders across the nation and how easy the Government takes away basic human rights for their short-tem benefit. It is nor happening in any other Western country. Is it convicts heritage embedded in mentality that makes Australia so different to Europe and US?