Governments worldwide were dealing with an unprecedented scenario and most dealt with the issue as best they could based on the data available at the time. If there was any overreach, then it certainly wasn’t out of recklessness or stupidity, as the conspiracy theorists would have us believe.

Whether it be because of antivax beliefs or misguided beliefs about fReeDoMs, anyone who suffered adverse consequences as result of refusing to be vaccinated has no one but themselves and their own selfishness to blame. I hadn’t heard of “granny killers” before, but “batshit crazy” was certainly apt.

Mikkelsen’s claim that "yesterday's conspiracy theories are now widely accepted as today's facts" is wrong. The vaccines were never sold as a magic bullet. It was made clear from the start that they would reduce the severity, reduce transmission, prevent hospitalisations, and save lives - and that’s exactly what they did. The notion that vaccines are somehow ineffective because they don’t stop transmission entirely is a strawman argument.

Yes, immunity wanes over time boosters are required. This isn't some grand revelation; it’s just the nature of vaccines, as we see with the flu shot every year. The important part, which Mikkelsen glosses over, is that even with waning immunity, vaccines still drastically reduce the risk of severe illness. You might catch covid, but you’re far less likely to end up in the ICU or on a ventilator.

As for the “serious side effects,” the overwhelming data shows that adverse reactions are rare and typically mild compared to the risks posed by the virus itself. Claiming that these side effects are being “widely accepted” as some kind of widespread, underreported crisis is a lie. The medical and scientific community has remained transparent every step of the way.

The comparison to Thalidomide is absurd, too. Thalidomide was rushed to out without proper testing.

You never fail to disappoint John Dasch with all your claims trashed by reality and numerous studies, but do keep up your boosters! (In my own extended family among those post vaccination we have had a woman with no heart problem history die of a sudden heart attack, another was told she must have the vaccines because she is immuno- compromised and is now practically crippled in constant pain and confined to home after two vaccines. Her doctors tell her she shouldn't have any more vaccines or her condition will worsen. Another man who has had multiple boosters ( five or six) has suffered fibromyalgia rheumatic and a cancerous lung nodule ... excess deaths , turbo cancers and sudden heart attacks among the young, fit and healthy are a world-wide reality but of course it's just coincidental. Nothing to see here.... (PS if you want evidence seek a copy of testimony to Senator Robert's Senate inquiry).

I suspect the author is not a doctor or has a lot of medical knowhow. But what would he have done that would have made the whole situation better??
People in glass houses.........

Well ateday, I was a qualified pharmacy dispenser before diverting to journalism. What would I have done better? No mandates, no lockdowns, no coercion, no police using excess force on peaceful protesters, no border segregation, no lies about the untested vaccine being "Perfectly safe and effective - just for starters.
Meanwhile here's another recent take on fudged vaccine death numbers:
https://news.rebekahbarnett.com.au/p/official-covid-vaccine-death-count
"...As at 22 August 2024, there are 1,038 deaths and 140,899 adverse events reported to the DAEN in relation to Covid vaccines since the rollout began, in February 2021.

The under reporting factor (URF) for predominantly passive surveillance systems such as the DAEN (and affiliated state and territory systems) is estimated in the academic literature (here, here and here) to be between 10-100 fold. This means that the actual rate of deaths after Covid vaccination in Australia may be between 10,000 - 100,000 (given that Australia experienced between 30,000-40,000 cumulative excess deaths between 2021-2023, the upper bound is unlikely). The TGA has not produced its own estimate of the URF for the Covid vaccine program.

28% of deaths reported to the DAEN after Covid vaccination occurred within one week of the shot, and the majority occurred within six weeks, TGA figures show...."

I would welcome a Royal Commission into Australia’s handling of the COVID pandemic, not least because it might help to dispel the type of nonsense on display in this article.

The author says, “We know the vaccines don't prevent contraction or transmission, any benefit wanes after a few months and there are potential serious side effects.” I don’t recall anyone claiming that the vaccines have no adverse effects, or that they provide permanent immunity, or that they guarantee that people will not catch or pass on COVID. The vaccines reduce your chance of catching COVID and reduce the severity of symptoms if you do get it. They may also make it less likely that you will transmit the disease if infected. For most adults, the risks of getting vaccinated are far lower than the risks of not getting vaccinated. That’s why vaccines were strongly advocated by governments and health experts around the world. It’s a bit like using seatbelts – there are rare reports of people being injured or even killed because they were wearing one, but on balance you are much better off doing so.

A Royal Commission could look into what worked and what didn’t so we are better prepared for the next pandemic. It could look into the costs of lockdowns and whether, for example, the Swedish response was better or worse than the more interventionist approaches of most developed countries. It could look into the other adverse effects of lockdowns – for example, on metal health. It could look into how we ensure that supply chains, including for vaccines, function in future crises.

Here in WA, the government’s decision to close the borders probably saved hundreds of lives and allowed us to live almost normal lives in our COVID-free bubble until vaccines became available. Premier Mark McGowan was rewarded by a grateful public with a huge election landslide in 2021. The experience of Victorians, in contrast, was horrible. A dispassionate and objective evaluation of these experiences is surely worthwhile, though it is unlikely to persuade the conspiracy theorists that they are wrong.

Whether we forget or not, we won't be able to talk about it anymore if Albanese gets his censorship Bill through. You might end up in a gulag, John. You could have the likes of Mr. Daysh and ‘ateday’ as guards or re-educators. Probably guards: not smart enough for the other role.