Professor Van-Tam has now become a well known expert when it comes to coronavirus and he featured in the particularly long Downing Street briefing yesterday.

Of significance Van-Tam has said that two vaccinated people getting together will be “incredibly safe” and this is based on the fact that not only does vaccination afford high personal protection against catching the virus but it also gives high protection against transmitting the virus to others. The point was also echoed in that where two people get together where one has been vaccinated and the other has not still leaves quite a margin of potential for infection.

So if this correct how can “personal freedom” to go to a place potentially to infect people be more important than the personal freedom to go to a place and feel protected against such people by keeping them out?

So if the covid passport does not actually require people to be vaccinated or otherwise adequately protected against the disease to obtain admission, then it should certainly be permissible for operators of premises to adopt a policy for exclusion should they choose to do so. Personal freedom is immensely important in our society and should be cherished but should personal freedom extend to potentially killing someone who could otherwise be protected?

The vast majority of people want safety – this is proven by the enormous take up of vaccination by the people of the country. Think of all the wonderful venues we have which could re-open if we could be safe again!

Adrian Leopard 29-4-21

Photo Alana Harris