Registered nurse Sue Halliday injects Renae Burridge with the Covid-19 vaccine at Taradale Club, Napier. Hawke's Bay now has 50 per cent of the population vaccinated twice. Photo / Warren Buckland
Registered nurse Sue Halliday injects Renae Burridge with the Covid-19 vaccine at Taradale Club, Napier. Hawke's Bay now has 50 per cent of the population vaccinated twice. Photo / Warren Buckland
OPINION
It took the Napier Port CEO to take the region by the lapels this week and say 'Delta is coming to Hawke's Bay.
You'd think it would be someone within the health system pointing this out.
But paranoia has set in across the country around Covid-19 and associated 'messaging'.
The Government has announced it is no longer attempting to eradicate Delta. It is an unattainable goal.
We are now in 'vaccinate' mode.
Napier Port CEO Todd Dawson. Photo / Supplied
Hence NZME (Hawke's Bay Today's parent company) has launched The 90% Project, encouraging people to work toward 90% of NZ being fully vaccinated.
And the DHB has launched Ū Tonu (Keep Going) campaign, on the eve of the region reaching the 50 per cent double vaccinated target.
The 100% Project is an impossible task - 90% is what we are being told will help safeguard us against the devastating health and economic impact of future strains of Covid-19.
Ninety-five per cent would be even better.
It will mean different looking level 3 and 4 restrictions, as we become more resilient.
Hopefully we will have lockdown levels that are easier on our mental and physical health, and our economy. Because things keep changing.
Another factor backing Dawson's assertion - the Government has slowly introduced us to the idea that we may require vaccination certificates or 'passports'.
It's a long term strategy.
These 'passports' already exist overseas, in Europe, for example.
We are going to need them because, as unpalatable as it sounds, society will soon discriminate against us, based on whether or not we are fully vaccinated.
Those who are, will get privileges over and above those who aren't.
And speaking of long hauls, expect legal challenges in workplaces around privacy and human rights.
Many workers or employees have contracts that give employers no right to ask whether or not they are vaccinated, it is a massive legal argument untested around privacy.
It is inevitable Delta will come to Hawke's Bay.
It is inevitable there will be legal scraps over privacy and 'discrimination' toward people who have not been vaccinated
The world and our lives have changed dramatically in the past 18 months. And will keep changing.
We no longer catch the flu and get better, and move on.
If you haven't already, gently take yourself by the lapels, and shake.
