Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
The elephant in the room is whether we'd be able to reach such a critical mass. Sadly a significant proportion of people seem to be radically anti-vax, and would refuse any vaccine. When you add to that number those people who cannot receive the vaccine for medical reasons, there's a serious risk we might not reach the 60-80% likely required for herd immunity.
We may, and I know this is controversial, have to legislate on the matter. That is, "you have it, you have proof you can't have it, or you stay at home until the disease has been eliminated", with prison sentences.
Or maybe we could just let people take their own risk and leave the virus in circulation - but what if it overwhelms the NHS?
Could we say that those who refuse a vaccine (and aren't unable to have it for medical reasons) are effectively rejecting NHS treatment for anything relating to the virus? That is, you can refuse it, but if you do your only option is to self-treat at home regardless of severity?
Would it mean we have to socially distance forever?
Are there other viable options to handle this possibility given the size of the anti-vaccination movement? It's quite a concern.