All or nothing

IT is very disturbing indeed to be experiencing firsthand anti-(COVID-19) vax sentiment nor did I realise just how widespread it is.

Only this morning there were two faith-based organisations setting-up for their Easter Sunday services.

I spoke to a leader of one group who told me how she had been to Australia and how much she enjoyed it.

On asking about having the COVID-19 vaccination, she told me “we” won’t be having it, referring to those of her faith.

She later told me how she might decide to have the jab if she intended to travel to Australia again.

I spoke to some of the youths from the other faith-based organisation.

They all seemed against the vaccination, stating that God will protect them.

I told them that I was of the belief that God helped those who helped themselves.

While they were most respectful and polite, I could tell they were also very devout in their faith and not prepared to listen to my views.

What these anti-vax believers don’t seem to understand is that unless everyone is protected from the virus by having the vaccination, borders will not be opening.

Furthermore, the vaccination roll-out simply doesn’t work in a way that you can receive the vaccination if you decide to travel.

Besides this, unless there is a whole-of-nation vaccination coverage, sadly, noone will be going anywhere.

I told the youths how I might like to visit my family in Australia one day and too, how they would like to visit me in Fiji yet my family will not want to come here and expose themselves to the risk of COVID-19.

We will not have a tourist industry if there are only a small percentage of the population vaccinated.

It will have a severe and devastating domino effect on our economy.

It has to be all or nothing. JULIE SUTHERLAND Tamavua