WAs path to freedom is being dictated by 250,000 people yet to get the jab – Sydney Morning Herald

Blessedly there will be no requirement for double-vaxxed travellers to quarantine. That last measure, of course, came into effect in NSW and Victoria on Monday.

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Though there is a caveat. If vaccination rates are not high enough in parts of regional Western Australia, intrastate borders could be reintroduced, which seems absolute absurdity.

Never mind Josh Frydenbergs old line about being able to travel to Paris before Perth (which of course is now reality) what if you could go from Perth to Paris but not the Pilbara?

Ahead of the announcement the Premier said repeatedly that he wanted a normal Christmas but for people with family ties in Australias most populous states and overseas it will be anything but.

Businesses who compete for national and global talent, or for international students, will see those opportunities flow to freer jurisdictions.

Ninety per cent is a fantastically high hurdle that no comparable jurisdiction has used as a precondition for reopening. Can it be achieved, without a NSW-style outbreak to drive uptake?

Vaccine Commander Chris Dawson said as recently as three weeks ago that he had not insignificant concerns about the last 20 per cent.

I think there are, on our research, in the order of 4 to 5 per cent of people who have made their minds up they are not going to get it, he said. What I am chiefly concerned about is that about 55 per cent of the population are just presently hesitating or waiting until the disease arrives in the community and saying, I will do it then.

McGowan has made West Australian exceptionalism official policy, saying there is a globally unique opportunity to transition from COVID-free to open borders with very high levels of vaccination.

Thats true, but at what cost? And at what incremental benefit?

From almost as soon as they were agreed at National Cabinet, McGowan began trashing the Doherty thresholds of 70 per cent and 80 per cent of the over-16s.

These new thresholds are said to be based on WAs own modelling, which says that 313 people would die in the first year if COVID-19 arrived at 80 per cent vaccination coverage versus 117 deaths that occurred at 90 per cent vaccination coverage.

Under the 80 per cent modelled scenario, peak ICU occupancy would be 32 beds versus 8 under 90 per cent.

WA has a $5.6 billion surplus and the luxury of 18 COVID-free months to prepare.

Why WAs modelling is superior to Dohertys model, or any other COVID modelling which, no matter how expert, has been reliably too pessimistic everywhere including NSW and Victorias current outbreaks, has not been explained.

I dont want that on my conscience, the Premier said of the extra 200 deaths.

That was the most telling line, showing just how the states response is driven by fear.

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WAs path to freedom is being dictated by 250,000 people yet to get the jab - Sydney Morning Herald