To start with, I wanted to clarify that I’m double vaxxed, due for a booster in a month. I’m very pro-vaccination and all my kids are up to date with their vaccinations.

I read yesterday that Daniel Andrews is considering mandating the booster which puzzles me. It’s quite clear that the current vaccines are ineffective at preventing infection with Omicron. Recent data from Israel suggests that even a second booster is ineffective at preventing infection and transmission.

Victoria is currently seeing 20k cases a day despite our highly and recently vaccinated population.

Omicron is mild for most young, healthy people. Despite the absence of a mandate, Victorians have already taken up boosters with the percentages rising rapidly.

My question is two-fold. What’s the benefit to a booster when it doesn’t prevent infection and will do little to prevent serious disease with omicron in young and otherwise healthy people?

Secondly, what’s the point of mandating a booster considering both the vaccinated and unvaccinated are spreading it at similar rates. Are we not yet at the point where those who want the vaccine are able to get it and everyone else should be free to choose?

Edit: thanks everyone for the response. There’s definitely some vitriol and hate being slung my way for even thinking about questioning whether a booster is required.

I looked at the NSW surveillance report. It seems there are 15 people aged under 40 hospitalised who were vaccinated between November and last week. As a proportion of total cases in that age group, t seems minuscule. The report also shows that omicron is by far the dominant strain at the moment.

So, given the relatively small risk of hospitalisation for someone under 40, healthy, and vaccinated compared to the risk of adverse effects, is the risk justified?