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Vaccinations. There's been a lot written. A lot of science and a lot of rumour-mongering and general bollocks. I prefer to follow the science which from my reading tells me that vaccines improve your bodies' ability to fight the virus if you are unlucky enough to catch it. They reduce hospitalisations, deaths and slow down the rate of transmission and infection. It's not a silver Covid bullet.
I also understand that the risk of serious illness or death from Covid, far outweighs the risks from the vaccine, and risk there most definitely is, albeit a tiny one.
This is the science as I understand it.
It therefore follows that the decision to receive the vaccination is an individual's choice and they will make that choice based on their own personal risk assessment and personal liberty to make their own choice about their own bodies.
So yesterday, I had my first dose of vaccine, and I am very grateful to the Thai government who provided it, it was MY choice, so I will mention a few facts about MY experience.
I didn't die. I felt barely anything when I had it. I have had no side effects other than an extremely slight ache in my arm last night. I am 55, male, 83kg, type 2 diabetic, managed without drugs and I had the Comirnaty (new name for Pfizer) vaccine.
These are my facts; we are all unique and yours will be different that's why personal choice based on an individual's circumstances are so important.
Except it's unfortunately NOT always your choice...
I detest the conspirator theorists and bullies from the anti-vax brigade but equally, I detest the bullying from governments, forcing people into making the decisions they want them to.
The reason I mention this is because today in Thailand, we hear that it's possible that restaurants will finally reopen next week with 50% capacity but ONLY for people who are fully vaccinated and will need to show their local ministry of health app to prove the fact.
This is disgraceful because its divisive and it's bullying, it's stupid because there are only 27% of people in Bangkok fully vaccinated thus far and from a business perspective, the many small businesses who are on their knees here will open their eateries and have expenses to pay for barely a higher return than they get from the takeaway sales.
We have been in full lockdown for 3 months down and have a legally enforceable curfew from 9pm until 4am. Is this the best that this government can come up with? We can't even go to the park for some fresh air for they all closed too. Is there any wonder people have such disregard for their 'governors'?
I follow the science, this government seems to ... make it up as they go along, all the time massaging the facts. Science says that Covid can be transmitted through the air hence the 2m distancing rules which is sensible. Thailand says close the parks and piss everyone off, there is zero evidence-based science behind that.
Governments need to focus on coping and dealing with this pandemic primarily while still continuing with research into defeating it in the background. To be fair though, it seems Thailand is beginning to see the light. Many hotels here have suddenly stopped attempting to lure in domestic visitors with incredibly low prices and deals and instead have cancelled all their future bookings and are turning their rooms to hospital / convalescent use. In a country with a rotten and elitist private healthcare system, this will hopefully help more of the vast majority of the population on very low incomes have a back-up of good, affordable quarantine and convalescence facilities if and when required.
But back to the Covid passports. I don't seem to see much factual research or evidence-based findings on the benefits of allowing such a vast majority to enjoy preference over the minority as we are beginning to see all over the world. Forcing certain employees contractually to be vaccinated, stopping people from watching their favourite band and having a beer. All very dystopian.
This is for and against debate should simply be that. A debate and it irks me that government feels it necessary to end the debate by forcing rule of law. I know many became involved in Hive because they share a common philosophy of wishing to reduce the interference of government in their everyday lives, but after reading many screaming banshee style headlines on Hive it saddens me that very few people have the ability to put forward reasoned arguments without resorting to fallacy and disrespect.
I again refer to the Stephen Covey who said;
Firstly, listen to understand and only then, speak to be understood.
