Let’s hope vaccine supplies can ease this EU/UK strife

IT IS difficult to imagine a more challenging and delicate situation arising than what appears to be happening between the EU and Britain.

Both have emerged from acrimonious and bruising negotiations bearing wounds that will need years of delicate diplomacy to heal. They emerge, however, in one of the most worrying periods of human existence. The world is fighting an horrendous pandemic where co-operation and sharing are so necessary to preserve life and prevent irreparable damage to economies that teeter on the verge of collapse.

Yet the EU and Britain appear destined for bitter hostilities regarding the share-out of a precious vaccine that is so necessary.

It appears, however, neither has an option other than outright conflict with the other as whomsoever concedes will face enormous guilt, backlash and probable electoral extremism.

Each is duty bound to fight tooth and nail for its own citizens whose needs can be satisfied only by deprivation and injury to citizens of the other.

The only hope of an amenable outcome would be for all vaccine suppliers to satisfy deliveries that satisfy both needs. Yet if this were possible it is unthinkable that matters would have been allowed deteriorate as they have.

It must be hoped and prayed the necessary supplies will come. Otherwise many will die, economies will deteriorate and bitter international wounds will be opened with ramifications for generations to come.

We can only watch and pray for an acceptable outcome

Padraic Neary, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo.

Mass jabs needed!

THE Government is engaged in crisis management of the Covid19 virus. Lockdown and/or quarantine are the only real tools currently at its disposal. We now know that although lockdown brings results, it is a very blunt instrument and the catastrophic damage it does to physical and mental health and to the economic health of the country is clear for all to see.

We must get the country open again and the only realistic way forward is a major vaccination programme.

I understand that there are issues with the production and supply of vaccines at the moment and the Government cannot be held responsible for this, but in the not-too-distant future there will be a plentiful supply.

The Government needs to put in place a clear plan to roll out a vaccination programme. We need to vaccinate 70%-80% of the adult population – that is about three million people or six million vaccine jabs – in the shortest possible time frame.

This needs to happen, not by the end of the summer or indeed by the end of the year, but in a matter of months after the supply of vaccine is available.

We need to appoint a senior Cabinet member responsible for this programme. Sites for mass vaccination centres need to be identified and equipped in advance. Personnel need to be recruited, both medical and administrative, perhaps using members of the Defence Forces.

We need to be able to vaccinate 50,000 to 70,000 people every day. This means everyone will have been given both jabs in two to three months. We also need to factor in that the current belief is the vaccination gives immunity for about six months, which means we will have to do it all again in six months and people that have been vaccinated in January will be due for revaccination in July/August.

We don’t have the luxury of time, we must prepare and act now. The Government needs to

Write to: Your Letters, Irish Mail on Sunday, Embassy House, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Email: letters@mailonsunday.ie including your name, address and telephone number

outline this plan in detail by the end of February, so we have a clear understanding as to how the programme will work. Failure to roll out a mass vaccination programme will be the biggest failure by any government of Ireland.

J. Malone, Dublin 18.

Donnelly is a liability

FOREIGN holidays must stop, says Micheál Martin, and I agree 100%, but the real problem is staring him in the face. Take off your mask for a minute, Micheál, open your eyes and ears, and get rid of your ridiculous ‘Minister for ill Health’ before you fall headlong into a pothole and injure yourself.

He must be the most inept, misinformed excuse for a politician I have ever seen. You are doing yourself no favours by allowing him to continue in his post.

PS and while you’re at it, send

Leo away somewhere for a long holiday, maybe even take Donnelly with him.

Val Davis, Crosshaven, Co. Cork.