Compulsory COVID Vaccines

If you think the governments of the world will mandate inoculation of the various COVID vaccines that are coming to market, think again. They have private industry for that.

March 2020, marked the date that our lives changed forever. On the surface, you may think “No shit!”, but bear with me for a second. I don’t mean facemasks or staying away from friends and family, although those in of themselves are substantial differences from how we interacted less than 12 months ago. The change I refer to is that of a fundamental shift in our society, in our liberty and in our freedoms.

For 8 months we have been emotionally pulled from pillar to post by the incompetency of our Federal and Local governments. Piecemeal and fractured guidance that seems to change more quickly than the seasons, as we exist under the dark cloud of COVID. Never knowing how to proceed safely, what we’re “allowed” to do and not do, who we can and cannot see.

We’ve watched policies implemented late or not at all, strategies broken from conception and lies told unabashedly, without a second thought of apology, even when shown their lies on tape.

And now, as the economy survives on a ventilator, millions usher in the Christmas holidays without employment and winter approaches with a new possibility of a third wave; we’re told our saviour is just around the corner.

The vaccine.

Just in case you weren’t ready to receive your saviour; the plan for identifying heretics is being firmly established. With efficacy statistics being challenged and revised, the population are skeptical and in my opinion, rightly so. As recently as last week we were told these vaccines from pharmaceutical giants Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca were up to 94% effective. However, more studious analysis has shown the overall efficacy is closer to 75%. 3 in 4 chance that this might be the grand solution we’ve all been waiting for. 1 in 4 that it does nothing. The 90th percentile efficacy relates to those most severely compromised or vulnerable to COVID. Those 60yrs+ and those who have underlying health conditions — it’s 90% effective in stopping hospitalisations.

What is its effectiveness in the healthy population? How many rounds of the vaccine are required to be effective? Is there a difference between the dosage for a healthy person versus a vulnerable person? If so, what is the difference? What are the long term benefits? Will the vaccine be an annual requirement? Do we know the medium and long term side effects of receiving this treatment?

You see, it’s imperative in this day and age to fact check, double check and read between the lines because one thing is certain; they don’t care about you if you don’t contribute to their bottom line. Government’s bottom line and industry’s bottom line. Remember, you are the commodity. You are the oil running the economic engine and they are positioning the vaccine as the oil change required to keep the engine running smoothly.

Herein lies the problem, as well as the solution.

It would be unconstitutional for a government to mandate inoculation and have stated there is no interest in making the COVID vaccine mandatory from a legislative perspective. However, what you are seeing is the solution to what would be a constitutional crisis — the private sector.

Whispers of private businesses implementing a “No Shot, No Service” policy are becoming more audible. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has said “Whether you’ll need that domestically, we’ll have to see what happens with COVID-19 and the market, but certainly for international visitors coming out and people leaving the country, we think that’s a necessity,”. Other airlines across the world are looking to adopt similar measures, according to Joyce. “I’m talking to my colleagues in other airlines around the globe and I think it’s going to be a common theme across the board,” he said.

While government here in the U.K. remains steadfast in their policy of not mandating the vaccine, reading between lines one can see where the conversation is leading. Nadhim Zahawi, who is responsible for the rollout of vaccines against COVID-19, said in an interview with the BBC that jabs will not be compulsory. “I think it is right that it is voluntary,” he said.

“People have to be allowed to decide for themselves whether they want to be vaccinated or otherwise.

“But, I think the very strong message that you will see, this is the way we return the whole country, and so it’s good for your family, it’s good for your community, it’s good for your country to be vaccinated.

“And, ultimately people will have to make a decision.”

Mr Zahawi confirmed the government was looking at providing people who get the vaccine with an “immunity passport” to show they have received it.

And he also told the BBC’s World At One: “I think you’ll probably find that restaurants and bars and cinemas and other venues, sports venues, will probably also use that system — as they have done with the app.

“I think that in many ways the pressure will come from both ways, from service providers who’ll say ‘look, demonstrate to us that you have been vaccinated’.

“But, also, we will make the technology as easy and accessible as possible.”

Asked specifically if those who refuse to get vaccinated could find they are restricted in what they can do, Mr Zahawi replied: “I think people have to make a decision.

“But, I think you’ll probably find many service providers will want to engage with this in the way they did with the app.”

So you see, the government doesn’t have to make it compulsory to take the vaccine. Industry has enough influence over you that they only need to update their T&C’s to put you in violation of the new policy, giving them the prerogative to refuse you service.

Then the decision is yours, to a degree. Comply and get access to all your favourite amenities and ignore the potential risk of taking a medicine that has yet to be peer reviewed. After all, you don’t want to lose the ability to pay inflated prices for subpar services. What will you do? How will you survive without £6 pints and £15 burgers? Are you going to be the one that tell your friends you can’t attend drinks or gigs because you don’t trust the vaccine is safe? Doubtful.

Or, you can abstain until due diligence is carried out and risk being ostracised by your peer group and perhaps those closest to you. Are you going to refuse a vaccine when you’re wife or partner is pushing for a well-needed, well-deserved holiday? Many of us are defined by the lifestyles we live and to break those habits in the name of self-determination is, I feel, a stretch too far for most. They know they’ve got you hooked.

It’s no different than the digital addiction we suffer. We know that tech companies are tracking us, spying on us, reading our communications and influencing us with content that keeps us glued to the screen like mindless zombies. We know they share this data with governments. Do we actively try to fight back? No. Do we make any honest attempt to break the digital shackles we’ve bound ourselves with? No. So, why would the government need to impose such Draconian measures as compulsory inoculation when they can have industry update their terms of service? You’ve never read the Apple T&C’s. Why? Because you “need” access to iTunes. You don’t really care that Google is spying on your keystrokes. Why? Because forget using Duck Duck Go.

My contention is that businesses will employ this tactic because government will advise on the risk of more lockdowns, which leads to loss of customers and business closures. Therefore most people will get the vaccine. Not because it’s safe but because in order to continue the convenience of the life they remember being so wonderful, it’s a small price to pay.

My concern is the slippery slope this puts us on in terms of how much liberty, freedom and self determination we are giving away frivolously for things that don’t actually improve our lives, but keep us under the thumb of corporations and shackled to the digital emperors consolidating wealth and power as a consequence of our own complacency.