It's a sweet relief to be vaccinated – but it's not a return to normality | Polly Toynbee

As older people relish being vaccinated, the UK government ’s messaging risks being confusing and contradictoryCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAge brings few benefits, as far as I can see: not wisdom, not virtue, nor serenity. But what a bonus to find yourself among the ranks of septuagenarians lining up for the Covid-19 vaccine. This gift of life arrives via an automated NHS text message, amid the hospital horror-show of the TV news. Whoops of relief spread among senior friends who are due for the jab shortly: how sublimely lucky, how good to be old, as the angel of death passes over.“Cry freedom!”said the health secretary, Matt Hancock, wooing Spectator-reading libertarians with a promise of imminent release from lockdown, once society ’s most vulnerable people have been vaccinated. He’s overpromising yet again, and it’s not the official message: even Boris Johnson has managed towarn that there will be no “open sesame with a big bang”. The message for vaccinated people is to change nothing: stay home, mask up, no travel, no indoor meetings beyond your household, obey lockdown rules. No one can be 100% sure you might not still contract it, or more likely, you might not still unknowingly spread it. So there will be no oldies’ raves, at which they flaunt their privileged vaccine freedom.Continue reading...

Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - January 21, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Polly Toynbee Tags: Coronavirus Vaccines and immunisation Infectious diseases Science UK news Health Source Type: news