COVID

As we reach the beginning of a new March before we have finished the old one, as life has been on hold since March 12th when the UK Government gave ip on trying to contain the virus, news comes that there is probably going to be vaccine passports, which will enable the holders to get into pubs, eat inside in restaurants maye even go on holiday, whilst those without, won't.

It is hard to argue with that, but some people can't have the vaccine, so will become internal exiles.

And as I previously said, vaccines are just one weapon in an armoury of tools to be used to defeat the virus. Relying on this alone, which it is clear Johnson and his Government are doing, is almost certain to fail, with the result a vaccine resistant third wave which will cull another 60,000 or so poor souls.

People are booking holidays, in the UK and abroard, despite over 40 of those countries currently banning anything other than essential travel from UK, and if there is doubt in what the UK is doing, or in the effectiveness, then bans will remain, or time in quarantine when you arrive for a week or two, will be needed.

Next week sees the first Budget in a year, with the Chancellor being warned off tax increases, but he will increase some, possible pensions. And we might remember that for 12 weeks, except when he was at death's door, Johnson called on the nation each Wednesday to clap our NHS and key workers; well, NHS staff will get no pay rise this year, either.

How's that for appreciation?

After a slight dip in vaccinations at the weekend, on the day I got mine, rates have increased again, and many of my old schoolfriends were also jabbed this week, the campaign goes on, quietly and efficiently as local NHS and concils get the job done.

We can do it, as a nation, if professionals are given the tools and time to get it done, centralising everything is what caused so much failure last year and caused so many deaths. Odd then that the lesson the Government has taken is that more, not less, centralisation is needed, and Ministers take more charge of the NHS.