Originally Posted by Barriej (Post 13083562)

So how will that work then??? Seeing as Australians already pay via the medicare system. My daughter pays so much each month and then pays for her treatment and is then refunded back a %.

Are they going to do the same with the indigenous population, most of whom are scattered across the vast empty parts of the country?
While you are at it Smokers, Alcoholics, Drug addicts, Drivers who text, don't wear seat belts, idiot climbers or walkers who get stuck up mountains, I could go on....

Also thousands die each year from flu... whats the difference there then???
I've never had a flu jab and never had flu (that I know of) will I have to pay if I catch it and end up in hospital??

I also have private medical insurance here in Spain, so Im not a drain on the health service anyway, If I decide not to have the boosters because I don't think they are helping (or Im fit and healthy and believe that I wont suffer too much if I catch it) what will they do? Im essentially paying for my treatment so it should not be withheld.

Or lets say the Uk decided to roll out something similar. All employed people pay for the health service, you can't make them pay as they are already... so can they then withdraw paying their NI contributions?

I don't want to make this comment but will

Didn't my grandparents fight wars to stop this sort of thing happening???
Freedom and the right to live in peace without persecution (thats probably bit harsh when you consider what happened during the last war, but you get my drift)

No more comments from me, Im getting fed up with the human race (might sign up for the Mars mission) :)

Happy Christmas anyway...

Originally Posted by Barriej (Post 13083562)

So how will that work then??? Seeing as Australians already pay via the medicare system. My daughter pays so much each month and then pays for her treatment and is then refunded back a %.

Are they going to do the same with the indigenous population, most of whom are scattered across the vast empty parts of the country?
While you are at it Smokers, Alcoholics, Drug addicts, Drivers who text, don't wear seat belts, idiot climbers or walkers who get stuck up mountains, I could go on....

Also thousands die each year from flu... whats the difference there then???
I've never had a flu jab and never had flu (that I know of) will I have to pay if I catch it and end up in hospital??

I also have private medical insurance here in Spain, so Im not a drain on the health service anyway, If I decide not to have the boosters because I don't think they are helping (or Im fit and healthy and believe that I wont suffer too much if I catch it) what will they do? Im essentially paying for my treatment so it should not be withheld.

Or lets say the Uk decided to roll out something similar. All employed people pay for the health service, you can't make them pay as they are already... so can they then withdraw paying their NI contributions?

I don't want to make this comment but will

Didn't my grandparents fight wars to stop this sort of thing happening???
Freedom and the right to live in peace without persecution (thats probably bit harsh when you consider what happened during the last war, but you get my drift)

No more comments from me, Im getting fed up with the human race (might sign up for the Mars mission) :)

Happy Christmas anyway...

Originally Posted by Fredbargate (Post 13083971)

Australia on Monday confirmed its first death from Omicron variant of coronavirus after a fully-vaccinated patient from New South Wales succumbed to the infection.

The patient was identified in his 80s who had underlying health conditions and reportedly caught the infection at an aged care facility in western Sydney.

This comes on the day Australia’s most populous state reported more than 6,000 new Covid-19 cases.

Infections are surging in Australia amid spread of Omicron variant as New South Wales reported 6,324 new cases, out of which 524 people are in hospitals — including 55 in intensive care units. This is marginally down from Sunday’s count of 6394.

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/covid-news...030857817.html

Originally Posted by old.sparkles (Post 13083982)

The number of people in both hospital and ICU in NSW are climbing with those high number of cases.

But the high number of cases now being seen in most states are causing other issues - paramedics had to help out at an aged care home here in Adelaide with staff and residents testing positive.

Our vaccination rates are pretty good too - 86.3% of those 12 or over in SA, and some states even higher (https://www.covid19data.com.au/vaccines). Vaccinations now starting for 5+, and boosters available for all who are more than 4 months since second dose.

Originally Posted by Barriej (Post 13084005)

As in most places there are wide differences. My daughter lives in QLD and has only just had her first jab (she is 29)
Her partners parents have not yet had their second one (they are in their 50's).
Nothing to do with reluctance, but its not been available to them...
Nearest town is over an hours drive and hospital is nearly two...

She and others locally have already said they wont be bothering with the booster, unless its been engineered to cope with the newer strains.

Originally Posted by airways (Post 13083805)

Out of interest…. What is the average age of posters on this group?

I am guessing majority retirees?

I will start at 52. Humour me.

Originally Posted by JeenaG (Post 13084118)

It's unlikely this site has that kind of information. A good guess, and I agree it will be majority retirees. My guess is the average age will be a bit nearer to mid sixties.

Originally Posted by airways (Post 13084135)

Professor Francois Balloux, director of the University College London Genetics Institute wrote: “One can don an FFP2, FFP3, N95 mask, or a hazmat suit, or whatnot, but at this stage, all this may achieve is to delay the time until some of us will get infected, and thereby marginally prolong the pandemic.

“Vaccine protection against infection is meh, though protection against severe symptoms, hospitalisation and death remains stellar (~20x), including against Omicron. There's also no moral failing in catching a respiratory virus. It's OK; it's life, which sucks at times.

“It gives me no joy to announce the inevitability of SARS-CoV-2 becoming endemic, and in an ideal world I wished we could have avoided yet another respiratory virus circulating in the community (there are already ~200 including 4 HCoVs), but the world is just not always ideal.”

He concluded it “is time to give in soon”, adding: “Vaccine protection rates are as high as they may ever be in many places, and now we've got a couple of decent drugs. Pretending we remain in control, of sorts, is just becoming too costly.”

Originally Posted by Pollyana (Post 13084130)

Of course you'd know, being new & all :ohmy::unsure:

Originally Posted by Pollyana (Post 13084130)

Of course you'd know, being new & all :ohmy::unsure:

Originally Posted by JeenaG (Post 13084162)

Oh my, what a horrible reply. Clearly this is a closed group that doesn't accept newcomers, I'll be on my way.

Originally Posted by SanNico (Post 13084156)

:rofl: You noticed the very similar writing style of several newcomers as well? I'd never suggest such a thing but a cynic would say we have a few users with multiple profiles, typing away to themselves to cause a stir.

Originally Posted by JeenaG (Post 13084162)

Oh my, what a horrible reply. Clearly this is a closed group that doesn't accept newcomers, I'll be on my way.

Originally Posted by Pollyana (Post 13084274)

Well you have to admit that its a bit odd, making an assumption like that in your first post!!
If people want to reveal their ages then of course they can, but personally I'm so old no-one would believe me if I did :eek:

Originally Posted by JeenaG (Post 13084162)

Oh my, what a horrible reply. Clearly this is a closed group that doesn't accept newcomers, I'll be on my way.

Originally Posted by airways (Post 13084556)

if you look past it there have actually been some helpful responses.