Sir, – Ireland has the highest adult vaccination rate globally, which should bring us pride.
Unfortunately, Ireland has the worst access to healthcare in Europe and completely insufficient capacity at all levels in the system, especially in our ICUs. Addressing this capacity deficit should be our core policy focus.
Aside from the Covid-19 virus, there is also an epidemic of fear and blame, which can lead to intolerance. I refer especially to the increasing rhetoric around "compulsory vaccination" and views (Letters, December 10th) stating that those who are unvaccinated should "not be entitled to the pandemic employment payment".
Unvaccinated are already stigmatised and punished, unable to travel, eat out, meet friends in a pub, or attend cultural events. There is also no high-quality evidence that punishing unvaccinated further, in the context of Ireland having a high vaccine uptake, will improve vaccination rates.
As a GP, we do not blame those who have “lifestyle choices” which we might disagree with – those who smoke, drink, use drugs, or commit crimes. In fact, these patient groups are often the most vulnerable in society and distrustful of the State.
Fear and blame do not mix well with politics – we have seen how their weaponisation contributed to Brexit and Trump.
As Covid-19 becomes endemic in our future society – hopefully a normal circulating respiratory virus – we need tolerance and respect for different viewpoints, and we should counter blameful policies which lack evidence. – Yours, etc,
Dr MARK MURPHY,
Dublin 8.