It’s time for us to put our trust in vaccines

WHEN we elect governments in this country we are choosing the people who in the end have to make the crucial life-and-death decisions at the hardest times.

At no period in our recent history has this been more obvious than the one we are living through with the coronavirus pandemic.

Boris Johnson has been in an invidious position throughout – at one point having to fight physically for his own survival – but always having to weigh the wider needs of the country against the impact of a deadly disease.

There is no doubt that throughout this crisis he has tried to do the right thing, usually getting it right but sometimes making mistakes.

So we cannot be unsympathetic as he comes to announce his decision tomorrow on whether to stick to his roadmap to final freedom or delay for a month. It seems likely that he will opt for delay.

This will be a disappointment to many and we have to question whether it is the right thing to do.

At this point all the vulnerable and elderly people most likely to die of Covid have been double vaccinated.

We also have to ask whether this is a life-and-death choice or instead a death and death one.

The facts are that with lockdown the waiting times for diagnosis or treatment for cancer sufferers and those with other serious conditions are being extended, people are missing appointments and many will inevitably die.

Businesses, especially in the hospitality sector, are struggling and may go under. Economic failure causes poverty. Poverty destroys lives.

A short delay from June 21 may be needed but this cannot be perpetual.as Mr Johnson’s own MPS are telling him, we cannot wait forever for freedoms to be restored and in the end this country needs to trust the vaccine.