Just a little prick

The news that Pfizer may have succeeded in producing a COVID-19 vaccine that is safe and more than 90% effective is great news for the 43% of us who would take it at the earliest possible opportunity. Because, according to an opinion poll carried out last month for Robert Peston’s ITV show, more people wouldn’t take it than would. The 57% majority would wait and see, whatever that means, refuse it or they simply don’t know. I suppose the best thing for those of us who believe in science and don’t particularly want to die of COVID-19 is that we’re going to get our vaccine shots far quicker than if everyone wanted one.

We need to be clear that it is not certain the Pfizer vaccine will work but it’s more than promising and it allows the possibility that sometime in 2021, life may resemble something like normal, at least for those of us who would take it. For those who refuse, not so much normal.

If 43% of the population take the vaccine, it’s to be assumed that we would be safe from COVID-19 for a period of time which still needs to be established. For those who decline it, I suppose the government would have to make special arrangements. Perhaps, the government might roll out ‘passports’ that prove we have been vaccinated. People who don’t possess such a passport might be told to keep on wearing face masks and to maintain social distancing indefinitely. I’d imagine foreign countries would expect that vaccine refuseniks to pay to take a test before they leave their country of origin to prove they have not got COVID-19 when arriving. The last thing they would want would be to re-import the virus.

We know that there has been much discussion of achieving ‘herd immunity’ and what figure might be required with COVID-19. The science is not quite there with the answer to this yet, but some have suggested around 60% might be required, but other studies indicate a much lower figure, some 43%, might be sufficient. Now where have I heard 43% before? Oh yes: the 43% of us who want to be vaccinated within seconds of it being made available.

This could be a great day if, if and if. And it might be a crap day if it doesn’t work as well as hoped or if insufficient people take it. If we go down the road of the latter, our new normal of tiers and lockdowns will carry on indefinitely, the economy will crumble and we will all have to stay at home because there will be nothing to do.

It is mind blowing that science has come up with so many answers so quickly and if this vaccine doesn’t work, there could be over 200 more out there at various stages of manufacture that might. This is turning out to be a good day. If you think a vaccine is a good thing, that is.