The so-called "conservatives" in this country turned it into a political issue. Instead of seeing it as requiring a sensible joint effort to get the economy and the country back to normality, it is seen as a badge of your political standing to believe the crazy nonsense put forth by any nut with a theory. The vaccine not only protects our own health but it will help protect the more vulnerable if we can significantly stop the spread of it. But "conservatism" has come to mean "You ain't MY problem". I've heard that attitude expressed often. I used to consider myself a conservative Republican but I am thoroughly disgusted by what that has come to signify.

As I've said before, it's all about who you choose to believe, I get most of my information from a few frontline health care workers that I know personally and who have nothing to gain by lying. Also, it seems like the widespread distrust of politicians seems to diminish when it comes to certain issues, like Covid or global warming,Covid is as much of a political issue as it is a health issue. Also I personally do not trust Bill Gates since the vaccines he sent to Africa, apparently contain abortion chemicals and he has been caught lying about certain aspects of the Covid issue like microchips in the vaccine, as determined by body language observations, as well as outright lies.

Wide2tele,
I applaud your state of Victoria and the Aussies in general for achieving what the USA seemingly has so much trouble accomplishing by following good, tried, and proven public health measures. Here, the politicizing of vaccination, of masking indoors, of limits on crowded gatherings, etc, etc, along Red vs Blue party lines has made it nearly impossible to get a common enemy, Covid, under control. Furthermore, the lack of understanding of basic science and the scientific method by a huge segment of our population has contributed to the plethora of misinformation and lies promulgated by a host of charlatans in the media, in high office, at the pulpit, etc. Instead of heeding the advice of the public health officials, doctors, researches, and other qualified experts, they hide behind their shield of "personal freedom," while sacrificing the common goal of public health. Out of such stupidity, 750,000 lives were lost here, the biggest number in the world. So many nations, Australia included, with far fewer resources than the U.S. possesses, has done much better with fewer deaths, particularly when public health measures were followed, instead of selfish personal freedoms. We won't be out of the woods yet for a much longer time!

Wide2tele,
I applaud your state of Victoria and the Aussies in general for achieving what the USA seemingly has so much trouble accomplishing by following good, tried, and proven public health measures. Here, the politicizing of vaccination, of masking indoors, of limits on crowded gatherings, etc, etc, along Red vs Blue party lines has made it nearly impossible to get a common enemy, Covid, under control. Furthermore, the lack of understanding of basic science and the scientific method by a huge segment of our population has contributed to the plethora of misinformation and lies promulgated by a host of charlatans in the media, in high office, at the pulpit, etc. Instead of heeding the advice of the public health officials, doctors, researches, and other qualified experts, they hide behind their shield of "personal freedom," while sacrificing the common goal of public health. Out of such stupidity, 750,000 lives were lost here, the biggest number in the world. So many nations, Australia included, with far fewer resources than the U.S. possesses, has done much better with fewer deaths, particularly when public health measures were followed, instead of selfish personal freedoms. We won't be out of the woods yet for a much longer time!