Opening up Sydney means freedom for some, but fear for others

Now that more than 80 per cent of people aged 16 years and older are vaccinated in NSW, Premier Dominic Perrottet wants us to set aside fear and embrace our newfound freedom. Like a cheerfully optimistic life-coach, he told journalists to “gain some perspective”, “stop the concern” and “focus on the hope and optimism that the people of NSW feel right now”.

My friend is immunocompromised. She has Cystic Fibrosis and was one of Australia’s earliest double lung transplant recipients. For her, one shot of an mRNA vaccine is 17 per cent effective, with a second one lifting this to about 50 per cent. They are significantly lower levels of protection compared with people who have normally functioning lungs and immune systems. But of course, she took what she could and was vaccinated as soon as she could be.

While she waits, it’s still too early to know how effective boosters will be. Data from Israel where boosters have started rolling out show 33 per cent of lung transplant recipients developed antibodies after the shot. This suggests to me that boosters alone may not be enough. The most vulnerable are the immunocompromised children who cannot access vaccinations yet. I don’t think I could describe what it must feel like for their parents right now. I won’t even try because it won’t be enough .

I really just want you to spend lots of money and make some people rich. Getting a few vulnerable out of the health system is just a bonus really.

If you’re uncomfortable with the current freedoms, exercise your right to stay home

A naive view of vaccinations for respiratory tract infections, which are never 100% effective, no matter what the virus

What's the alternative? It will never be possible to 100% guarantee that no-one will ever get sick from a virus; and if that's the criteria for re-opening, we'd be in lockdown for the rest of eternity. Clearly that isn't viable.

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