NHS staff and over 85s could be given the vaccine from next month....fingers crossed as it’s the only way out this hell
This may surprise and seem a bit callous but although I agree with the NHS staff I think over-85's should be a priority due to their vulnerability but maybe not that high a priority.
This is because if we want to see an end to this then we need to vaccinate those most likely to be in contact with many people, esp in different age groups. So for example working/middle aged people who will have kids that will have mixed with other kids but also have to support ageing parents, as well as probably work and meet a variety of people there are more likely to come into contact and spread the disease to those elderly people.
Although it's a sad indictment of our society, many elderly people do have rather restricted or small contact groups. So if we could protect those that come into contact with them like family support and carers that could have a bigger effect than concentrating on the elderly themselves. Younger people are not automatically guranteed to not be hugely effected by this virus let alone die, and having younger people who families rely on for income unable to work due to complications from the virus, or even the effect on a family that loses a parent/child to it or they have to then provide long term care for has massive potential psychological costs as well as ones for society and welfare that could be felt for generations.
And to sell it to the Tories it also allows them to get back to work, become economically active and reduce their need to provide support.
But it's ultimately down to the science and if they think the best thing to do is vaccinate the elderly first then that's what should happen. They've been ignored too much already at massive costs in terms of lives and economics.
