Why did we not step up vaccination efforts six months ago? Photo / Edward Rooney
If the present strategy for combating Delta does not work, what happens next?
If the current urgency in the vaccination programme had been applied six or more months ago, would we now be facing the prospect of lengthy lockdowns? If "the best economic response is a strong health response", why was vaccination not part of the strong health response?
Did our previous Covid successes foster a smugness that left us ill prepared for Delta? Have all options been considered or are we condemned to rely solely on the one blunt instrument that is lockdown and isolation?
Are these questions posed with the benefit of hindsight or should we have expected more from our leaders and pandemic managers?
George Williams, Whangamatā.
Help Afghans
The scenes at Kabul airport are heart-wrenching. The United States and allies always with the best of intentions endeavoured to defend a country from the persecution of Taliban rule, the outcome sadly, so tragic. We in NZ together with Western democracies are blessed to exist in a free, open society, guarded by the rule of law and permitted self expression, a rare privilege. As they escape tyranny, let us if the opportunity arises assist them as they pursue freedom.
P. J. Edmondson, Tauranga.
'Bullet-proof' backfires
Commentators have remarked on the slowness of Covid testing and the vaccine roll-out in recent weeks, apparently due to Government inefficiency . I believe it is more the complacency of a "bullet-proof" population who believed we had defeated the virus so simply didn't bother to do anything about it.
Suddenly we as a nation have realised Delta is as dangerous as the science suggests and we have been told time and again, and are now in a blind panic trying to save ourselves while blaming anyone else for our inertia. We have only ourselves to blame. Our Government has been doing the best work it can, given the social circumstances and vagaries of how this strain acts, to keep us all safe, so how about a moratorium on all the negativity and we take some responsibility for our wellbeing?
We'll all be much better off helping than complaining tirelessly. That gets us nowhere but down.
Jeremy Coleman, Hillpark.
Slam NZ shut
With rising Covid infections and deaths in NSW, the wisest thing would be to totally close our borders until completing vaccinations — no more red flights.
Susan Schultz, Red Beach.
Israel example
Fran O'Sullivan is right to say regional lockdowns for New Zealand would not automatically be racist but then quotes extensively in praise of Israel's response to Covid, which is based on appalling racism — referred to as "medical apartheid" by many commentators.
International law requires Israel as the occupying power to provide vaccinations to Palestinians under occupation in the West Bank and the besieged Gaza strip. However Bennett's government and the previous Netanyahu government refused to do so despite appeals from the United Nations Human Rights Council and despite Covid rampaging in these areas.
To make matters worse, Israel also initially delayed delivery of outside supplies of the Russian vaccine to Gaza and relented only after outside pressure.
Beside a cynical offer of a million almost expired vaccines, which was rejected, they have offered jabs only to Palestinians who work in Israel.
John Minto, Christchurch.
Biden doesn't get it
US President Joe Biden says he is going to (and does) retaliate with the eye for an eye strategy. He and his advisers seem unable to grasp that the people he wants to kill do not fear death — they even inflict it on themselves. Moreover, the more Isis people are killed the stronger it gets. I conclude Biden needs to appease the morons who voted for him (granted, there was no choice), and the military hawks.
Bruce Rogan, Mangawhai Heads.
From top to bottom
We read in the Herald on Sunday that speeding up the vaccine rollout is putting pressure on Pfizer supplies. Is the Government telling us what most of the team of five million has known for months?
We listened to the announcement in March that it was the goal to achieve a maximum vaccination rate by year's end. At that stage it was a commitment to fully vaccinate about 500,000 a month.
By the end of June, after two months, despite assurances that we were on target, less than half of the monthly goal to reach the national objective had been achieved.
August is now almost over, and the PM has proudly announced the "good news" that a million Kiwis have been successfully vaccinated. The fact this represents a rate well short of a remotely safe level of vaccination by the end of the year appears to have eluded her.
Now four months into the programme we face the need to fully vaccinate 750,000 Kiwis a month and at last the Government appears to understand there is pressure on vaccine supplies! From being in front of the queue we now languish near the bottom.
A generous report card might read "can do better" but a more realistic one would be "is not demonstrating responsibility and needs to be consistently reminded of how to perform daily tasks".
David English, Auckland.
Lift your mood
To alleviate the depression brought about by the accursed Covid, may I commend study of the humble alpaca as a diversion. Apart from a tendency to spit with accuracy, these friendly animals are both attractive and prolific breeders. What better time could there be to establish a small business in the backgarden. I am reliably informed that they always poop in the same place, so waste disposal is not a problem. I anticipate that after publication of this letter the demand for supply will equal that for the Dutch tulips in the 17th century. Carpe diem.
Peter Clapshaw, Remuera.
Letting us down
Reports indicate that police resources have to be committed to rescuing an injured mountain biker, who should not be there, anyway. The police then find dozens more. Something about the way we live here is turning many into careless children who want to have fun, regardless of the cost.
Stan Jones, Hamilton.
Lockdown pressure
Were red flights prioritised over returnees from other countries? Was the bubble inappropriate once Delta was known to be far more transmissible? Did hospitality force the Government's hand then and delay closing the bubble? It is vital to understand this. Why?
We are seeing the same pressure building to reduce lockdown levels as we saw to start and maintain the bubble. ( There is mounting pressure to strain our ICU and medical staff with UK-style living with Covid. At 70 per cent vaccinated is this madness? Can any country's ICU predict if it can cope with living with Delta's potential offspring let alone Delta?
We must vaccinate as fast as is humanly possible. All medical clinics with trained vaccinators ready should be fast tracked to enable them to be part of this. Pfizer should be put on notice to increase its delivery rates. Moderna vaccine, another mRNA, option should be ordered now to ensure no supply chain catastrophe.
Steve Russell, Hillcrest.
New level 4 rules
Thanks for publishing Bruce Cotterill's important article. It highlights the need to plan ahead and consider all aspects of the problem rather than just take advice from medical people and not take into account the collateral damage to the economy, the misery inflicted on the public, and children missing out on schooling.
By re-imposing a level 4 lockdown without updating the rules, the Government showed it learned little from the first lockdown. We should have new rules that acknowledge the major risk occurs in crowded, poorly ventilated buildings. The outdoor risk is small and there is little risk of becoming infected by touching something. Steps should have been taken to ensure adequate ventilation in places like supermarkets and schools. Recreational boating and swimming should be allowed close to shore and so on.
As Cotterill points out, the Government appears incapable of learning from experience or planning ahead. Sooner or later we must follow the rest of the world and learn to live with Delta. Planning for this should be top priority with the Government.
Bryan Leyland, Pt Chevalier.
On rollout
How about promoting the "rollout" with Ashley Bloomfield-themed toilet paper? Mike Wagg, Freemans Bay.
On history
Historians will one day write: New Zealand opened a bubble with Australia before there was a high rate of vaccination. Peter Thomas, Hamilton.
On border
Why not employ the Army to manage the regional borders between levels and free up police to keep our communities safer. John Bassett, Wellsford.
On shopping
We should patronise our closest dairies. It's just an excuse for an outing to visit large supermarkets. Reduce risk of spreading the "dreaded lurgy". Hing Yu, Pakuranga Heights.
On MIQ
Ellerslie Novotel is now a quarantine facility in a busy area frequented for various well-attended activities in normal times. Given the enhanced infectivity of Delta, is this wise?Nick Nicholas, Greenlane.
On stupidity
It's a pity we can't vaccinate against stupidity. If all politicians must be so vaccinated upon entering parliament, Winston Peters would have been prevented from coalescing with the Labour Party. Dave Murray, Grey Lynn.
I recall the PM said we had enough jabs for all our team of five million. Tracey D.
Jacinda revealed in March a deal to buy an extra 8.5 million doses, enough to vaccinate four million people, expected in the second half of the year. This would mean a total Pfizer order of 10 million doses, or two jabs each. Rebecca A.
The 4.5m vaccine target should have been met months ago. Failure. Samuel S.
Running out of jabs, we all knew it would happen once we ramped up when Delta arrived. Unfortunately, our leaders didn't believe Delta would get here. Kevin B.
The Government will move on from elimination, it is impossible. Pietro E.
Has the PM rung Pfizer? Ben S.
Maybe we can borrow jabs from countries we let push in front of us? Andrew M.
Australia has millions of Astra doses on shelves and makes a million a week. Cheaper than Pfizer. If we ask nicely, it could be here next week. Simon M.
Procurement, distribution and application is late, haphazard, and based on impulsive decisions. Alexander G.
Plenty of Astra Zeneca around. It is perfectly fine for Brits. Barbara F.
We couldn't get the vaccines straight away because of the good job the Government had done. America prioritised itself. Hui T.
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The 19-year-old disappeared without her wallet or mobile phone.