Covid Zero Is No Longer Working for Australia

By Edward Cliff and Brian Fernandes in The NY Times. Dr. Cliff is a hematology doctor in Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Fernandes is a palliative care doctor in Sydney. Both worked in Covid-19 wards at their hospitals. Excerpts:

"Despite more than half of Australia’s 25 million inhabitants living under very harsh restrictions . . . cases have soared to more than 1,400 a day, the most since the pandemic began. As authorities tighten restrictions, hospitals are reaching capacity with Covid-19 patients"

"The country’s slow vaccination start stemmed from its inability to produce mRNA vaccines locally and its struggle to procure other vaccine options, leaving it dependent on the AstraZeneca vaccine as its vaccination program’s backbone. When rare cases of blood clots were tied to the AstraZeneca vaccine, the country was unable to pivot. Though well intentioned, Australia’s scientific advisory group for immunizations urged people under 60 to wait for the Pfizer vaccine. Politicians bickered, the local media attacked the AstraZeneca vaccine relentlessly, and vaccine hesitancy spread. With its vaccination rate the lowest among high-income countries, Australia was a sitting duck for Delta’s arrival."

"Governments are increasingly relying on police and military forces for enforcement, and lockdowns are costing the Australian economy billions. In spite of restrictions, case numbers continue to rise, and “Covid zero” is becoming increasingly out of reach. Australians are tired, frustrated and lonely, and recent protests are turning violent."

"At some point, Australia’s political and health leaders must acknowledge that the country cannot escape Covid forever and must prepare the community to live with Covid."

"To do so, Australia must add fuel to its vaccination rollout through incentives: immunization stations in accessible locations such as shopping centers"

"targeted marketing campaign to get more people vaccinated."

"As leaders encourage people to adhere to restrictions in the coming weeks, they must simultaneously begin to prepare Australians for the likelihood that there will be high case numbers when restrictions ease."