government has to learn to live with this and sooner than June 2022 .”
Drawing the ire of many , including all sides of politics , Ms Hrdlicka ’ s sentiments have been backed by many , not surprisingly big business invested within the travel industry including Flight Centre CEO Graham Turner who said that the comments weren ’ t “ callous ” just a practical assumption .
“ Even with hotel quarantine going on forever there ’ s going to be outbreaks so it ’ s inevitable that we ’ re going to have outbreaks ,” Mr Turner said . “ But it ’ s almost more inevitable within the next six , 12 , 18 months or so it ’ s going to become endemic in Australia .
“ We ’ ve got to learn to live with it and inevitably some people , particularly unvaccinated people , if people don ’ t want to get vaccinated , they are going to be hospitalised and a few will die ,” he continued comparing COVID deaths with that of the road accident toll .
Vaccination should be a priority , including that of people within developing nations , where currently less than 0.4 % of all vaccines administered worldwide have been given to lower-income nations , according to the World Health Organisation . It ’ s suggested that vaccination in developing nations has only seen 29 million administered , the 2021 target is 2 billion or more than 25 % of the world ’ s population . To achieve a worldwide herd immunity and effectively control the virus over 70 % of the population needs to be vaccinated .
Internationally , governments are realising that regardless of being ‘ the right thing to do ’ it is in our own self interest to help with vaccinating poorer countries to prevent further economic downturn and international restrictions . Politically it goes further with the nations helped ‘ remembering ’ from where the help came , in the case of many China and Russia . are at the forefront .
While vaccination is being debated politically , economically , and ethically , the international program will continue to roll out with each country responsible for its own administration . It ’ s led to confusion to what will be required once a vaccination has been received . There ’ s still yet to be announcement as to what the certificate will look like and cover , an international standard can ’ t be agreed .
Proof of all vaccines administered in Australia , including the COVID-19 vaccine , are available through the Australian Immunisation Register , which links vaccine history to an Australian resident ’ s personal medical history detailed at myGov and through Medicare records , while certificates or passports could contain this information including that of the Yellow Fever documents .
Irrespective of personal opinions regarding vaccination it is here to stay and is the way forward to a ‘ new normal ’. Vaccination passports will be seen as a valuable asset similar to a passport and / or visa .
The ‘ yellow ’ booklet could still be retained or more to the point electronic apps become the norm , this has led to many suggesting that personal information will be at risk however , many apps have the backing of leading international travel and tourism organisations as well as the United Nations .
Many countries have already suggested that the proof of vaccination will allow travel to resume . Greece , Portugal , and Thailand are amongst those that have opened their borders to vaccinated travellers without the need to quarantine , all countries heavily reliant on tourism .
Logistically challenges facing international travellers could well be that of the vaccination certificates or passports . Without standardisation in the near future , it could lead to further travel bubbles restricting travel and seeing some regions inaccessible for extended periods .
As we move to the ‘ new normal ’, vaccination is fundamental to , yet may complicate , overland and / or international travel further . Within a country similar to Australia the complications are greater as state and territory governments argue politics over the restrictions and rights of the people as evidenced recently by Western Australian Premier , Mark McGowan ' s notoriously hard line when locking down Australia ’ s largest state .
Mr McGowan stated unreservedly that he will not allow unrestricted interstate travel until the majority of the Australian population is vaccinated , complicating internal travel further .
Challenging times highlighted by a complicated issue that changes often and regularly , motorcycle travel will undoubtedly be different in the near to mid-future , how we accept and adapt will be key . Fundamentally certificates , passports or proof are here and will remain so , we need to accept . We will move on , we will travel overland and internationally again , we bike riders are a resilient lot , we ’ ll find the adventure in it regardless and adapt to the future of post-pandemic travel . TRAVERSE
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