A recent newspaper column “Vaccine confusion as clots force jab switch” (The Australian 18/6/21), brings to mind the sense and sensibility with which vaccines were developed and administered in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. It was through this period that many human afflictions (smallpox, tuberculosis, whooping cough, diphtheria, polio, chicken pox, measles and mumps) were counteracted through vaccine control.

One of the reasons for the success of these vaccination programs was their no nonsense administration. The polio vaccine to counter the crippling and debilitating effects of this awful disease, was administered to children in schools in the 1950’s. (I know, I was one of those children.) There were no ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’; and how thankful we all were to be immunised against polio’s insidiousnress. The same applied for other vaccination programs.

COVID 19 and its variants are threatening the world. It’s impact is global with multiple millions already deceased and many more millions battling Covid’s side effects. Rather than hastening to vaccination, authorities are baulking, people are hesitating and the whole program of people protection is being hampered by a crossfire of mixed messages.

We need to get on and get the vaccination job done. Procrastination and delays are endangering our population.