Is it time to rethink vaccine mandates for dining, fitness and events?

By Sammi


Is it time to rethink vaccine mandates for dining, fitness and events? We asked 5 experts


The requirement to show proof of two doses of a COVID vaccine to do things such as eat out, go to the pub and visit sporting events is still in place across parts of the country including Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.

Part of the rationale for such mandates is to limit transmission of the virus, and therefore also protect vulnerable people who may be at risk of severe disease.

But the arrival of the Omicron variant has changed the COVID landscape in Australia. Emerging evidence suggests two doses of COVID vaccine provides little protection against infection against the highly-infectious Omicron variant – though they’re still effective against severe disease.

So we asked five experts, is it time to rethink vaccine mandates for dining, fitness and events?

Here’s what they said.

The Conversation

Liam Petterson, Deputy Editor, Health + Medicine, The Conversation

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Location: Australia

Comments

Post a Comment

Comment

Most Viewed

Centrelink Payments pittance Increase for pensioners, JobSeekers in a cost of living crisis

By Sammi
Image
Pensioner struggling to buy food in Supermarket Photo by Gemini AI Centrelink Payments Are Increasing in 2025: What You Need to Know In a move to provide financial relief amid rising living costs, the Australian Government is increasing Centrelink payments through its regular indexation process . This will provide a welcome boost to millions of Australians, including pensioners , students , and job seekers . Payment Overview A number of key Centrelink payments are set to increase in 2025. These increases are part of the government's commitment to ensuring social security payments keep pace with the cost of living. The increases are being implemented in two stages: on March 20, 2025, and again on July 1, 2025. The payment increases are not a one-off "cash boost" but rather an ongoing adjustment to fortnightly payment rates. This aims to provide sustained support for those who rely on these payments to cover essential expenses. Who is Eligible? The payment increases will ...
Read more

Big changes are coming to Disability Employment Services

By Sammi
Image
Participants in Disability Employment Services Photo Google Gemini Big changes are happening in the world of disability employment in Australia. On November 1, 2025 , the Disability Employment Services (DES) program will be replaced by a new program called Inclusive Employment Australia . This new program is designed to better help people with a disability, illness, or health condition find and keep a job. The goal is to create a more inclusive and supportive system that meets the unique needs of job seekers and employers. What does this mean for you? If you are currently on the DES program, you don't need to do anything. You will be automatically moved to Inclusive Employment Australia on November 1, 2025. Your current work arrangements and payments will not be affected by this change. This is a significant step toward making employment more accessible for all Australians. Inclusive Employment Australia aims to provide a smoother, more effective pathway to employment, ensuring t...
Read more

Brisbane Rally Sparks Outrage as Hamas Flag Appears, David Crisafulli Demands 'Full Force of Law'

By Sammi
Image
A  pro-Palestine rally  Photo Grok A pro-Palestine rally in Brisbane has ignited a firestorm of controversy after a flag associated with the designated terrorist organization Hamas was reportedly flown. The incident has drawn a sharp rebuke from Queensland's Opposition Leader, David Crisafulli , who has called for the person responsible to "bear the full force of law." Queensland Police are currently investigating the matter. The rally, which saw tens of thousands of people march through Brisbane's CBD , was part of a coordinated, nationwide day of action for the Palestinian cause. 1 Organizers hailed the event as one of the largest pro-Palestine protests in the city's history, with participants calling for a ceasefire, an end to the arms trade with Israel, and sanctions on the Israeli government. 2 The event featured speeches from various community leaders and politicians, including Greens Senator Larissa Waters . 3 However, the event's peaceful message wa...
Read more

Alarming New Laws: Age Verification for All Australian Social Media Users

By Sammi
Image
A frustrated female parent trying to log in Photo Meta Ai In an effort to protect young Australians, the government has introduced new laws that will require social media platforms to implement age verification for all users. Starting December 10, 2025, platforms will need to take "reasonable steps" to prevent under-16s from creating or keeping accounts. However, this means that  all Australian social media users , regardless of age, will likely be impacted. What Does This Mean for You? To enforce the age restriction, platforms may use various methods, including  Facial Age Estimation Technology : analyzing facial features to estimate age Matching Photos with Photo ID : verifying age by matching user-submitted photos with government-issued ID Bank or Mobile Provider Information : confirming age using bank or mobile provider data Alternative Methods : other non-government ID methods, such as behavioral signals or biometrics Concerns and Implications While the intention is to...
Read more

Centrelink Warning for Downsizing Baby Boomers: Don't Lose Your Pension

By Sammi
Image
Baby Boomers in Centrelink office Photo Gemini 2.5 The idea of downsizing is an attractive one for many Baby Boomers approaching retirement. Selling the family home, moving into something smaller and more manageable, and freeing up some extra cash can be a fantastic way to boost your retirement lifestyle. But if you're a pensioner or are planning to apply for the Age Pension , there's a crucial Centrelink rule you need to understand to avoid a nasty financial surprise. The good news is, you don't have to race into a new home. Centrelink has a "special" retirement rule that gives you a generous grace period before the proceeds from your home sale affect your pension. The key is to know what you're doing with the money. The Two-Year Grace Period: What You Need to Know In recent years, Centrelink has updated its rules to be more accommodating for downsizers. If you sell your principal home with the intention of buying, building, or renovating a new one, you ca...
Read more

Google Partners with Energy Dome to Store Renewable Energy in Domes Filled with CO₂

By Sammi
Image
Google Energy Dome Photo Google Gemini MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — In a bold move toward its 24/7 carbon-free energy goal, Google has announced a new partnership with Italian startup Energy Dome to deploy a novel long-duration energy storage (LDES) technology that uses giant domes filled with carbon dioxide (CO₂). This collaboration represents Google's first commercial deal in the LDES space and is a significant step in making intermittent renewable energy sources , like solar and wind , more reliable around the clock. The technology, dubbed the " CO₂ Battery ," operates on a simple, yet powerful, thermo-mechanical principle . When there's an excess of cheap renewable energy on the grid, the system uses that power to compress CO₂ gas, which is stored in a large, flexible dome, and turn it into a liquid. The heat generated during this process is also captured and stored. When the grid needs more power—for example, when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowi...
Read more