Doctors across WA are sharing their opinion on WA’s border policies. This is your chance to have your say on this crucial matter.
Western Australia, dubbed by some as the ‘hermit kingdom’, has been isolated from the rest of the world for over two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, just when we were ready to open our borders on the 5th of February, the spread of a new variant across Australia led to a change of plans. Now, there is no date in sight for our borders to open.
But, is keeping our borders closed the best approach to take? Will this keep us safe from COVID-19?
Reasons to keep borders shut
According to WA’s Premier Mark McGowan, keeping our borders shut will give more time for everyone to get a booster shot. Research show that getting a third jab significantly improves our protection from the COVID-19 virus, particularly from the infectious Omicron variant.
“Unfortunately, the world changed in December, Omicron arrived. It would be irresponsible and reckless for the state government to ignore the facts and ignore the reality of the situation playing out on the east coast,” Mr McGowan said in a press release.
At the time of writing this article, Australian states like New South Wales and Victoria are facing tens of thousands of cases per day, and growing number of deaths. In contrast, WA is reporting an average of 15 cases per day.
Another reason to keep our border shut is to allow for our younger children to receive their vaccine. Vaccination of 5–11-year-old children in WA started from 10 January 2022. If keeping the borders shut can keep COVID-19 at bay, children have a better chance at getting vaccinated before been exposed to the virus.
Reasons to open
However, according to more than 5,000 doctors from across WA, our borders should open as originally planned, on the 5th of February. Earlier this week, an online petition was launched to gather support from doctors across WA who support opening our borders as originally planned, on 5 February.
The petition, available here, has so far received the support of more than 5,300 doctors. Doctors argue that WA is as ready as can be, with 90% of the population being double vaccinated, that business and hospitals were ready for the promised date, and that the Premier gave his word on the 5 February opening.
According to Dr Michael Gannon, the new plan to keep WA borders closed may affect some of our most vulnerable groups. “Delaying the border opening results in waning vaccine effectiveness in more vulnerable groups, i.e. those with chronic disease, the elderly, Tier 1 health care workers,” Dr. Gannon told Medical Forum.
“The Premier has breached the trust of a community that will need to seriously cooperate with other important public health measures required in the months ahead,” he added.
For Dr Joe Kosterich, Perth based GP and Clinical Editor Medical Forum, the 5 February opening date was fine, with WA’s high double vaccination rate and summer still in full swing. “Omicron is a mild illness and with 90% double vaccination, the risks are now very low,” he said.
“The backflip is a betrayal of a public which have done everything that was asked of them. It will see an increase in non-compliance and is a free kick to the anti vax movement,” he added.
Should WA open its borders on the 5th of February, as originally planned?