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Gareth Chaney

'No room for pseudoscience or scaremongering' in vaccine messaging, says Harris

Simon Harris has said that TDs should support advice from public health experts as a vaccination programme is rolled out at the start of next year.

POLITICAL MESSAGING ON the Covid-19 vaccine must follow the guidance of public health experts and avoid any instances of scaremongering, a government minister has said.

Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris has said that TDs should support advice from public health experts as a vaccination programme is rolled out at the start of next year.

Speaking on This Week in Politics on RTÉ One, Harris said that there can be “no room whatsoever for pseudoscience or nonsense or scaremongering”.

“Our citizens will have legitimate and important questions they’ll want experts to answer in relation to the vaccine,” Harris said.

“When I read in the weekend newspapers – I won’t name them because they’re not here – different TDs explaining different reasons why they wouldn’t take a vaccine, that needs to stop,” he said.

I get my medical advice from doctors. That’s what I’d want for my family and my community and that’s what we should all do.”

Harris said that by supporting scientists and doctors during the rollout of a vaccine, ”so many of the things that we’ve missed this year, we’ll be able to begin to imagine and perhaps even experience next year”.

“We have to listen to our doctors, the same people who have steered us through this pandemic and I think have done a very good job on keeping us safe, giving us good, honest advice and communications, they’ll be the same people making the key decisions on who will get the vaccine first, how will the vaccine be rolled out, and I think the job for us as politicians is to roll in behind them.” 

“Certainly, [there are] reasons to be optimistic, reasons to be hopeful as we enter 2021, but that’s not a reason to let down our guard at this crucial moment.” 

Sinn Féin spokesperson for housing Eoin O’Broin also said that clarity in public health messaging and political message will be “absolutely vital” as the vaccine is rolled out.

“There will be genuine people out there who have concerns, who have questions, and therefore particularly the public health officials, who are the people best placed to answer those, need to be supported by government in clarity of message so that everybody understands, when this vaccine is available, why certain groups of people are getting it first because they’re most at risk or they’re frontline workers in a variety of fields,” O’Broin said. 

“The greater the level of the involvement of the community and community ownership and participation in this process, the better for all of us,” he said.

We’re going to be living with Covid-19 all through next year, and that’s a reality, but I share the sense of the beginning of light at the end of the tunnel, but we need clarity, we need transparency, and crucially we need the logistics on the ground to be gotten right so we don’t have any difficulties as the vaccine programme is rolled out next year.” 

The government has signed up to six advance purchase agreements of vaccines from Moderna, AstraZeneca, Jansen, Sanofi, CureVac and Pfizer.

Ireland, along with other EU member states, is waiting for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to approve a vaccine before one can be rolled out. 

It is expected that the first vaccinations in Ireland could take place from January if the EMA gives the green light to any of the vaccines.

Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit cautioned that difficulties faced by the health sector could pose challenges during the vaccination programme.

“The question of logistics, resourcing, and the legacy of the understaffing and under-funding of public health generally in our health service – I hope these don’t become barriers to the effective rollout of the vaccine,” Boyd Barrett said.

Independent TD Marian Harkin said she believes there is a need for a designated minister and a specific department to handle the “major” operations of rolling out the vaccination programme.

“Everything from refrigeration to locations where people will be vaccinated, those who will vaccinate them, who will train them, ensuring we have good, clear up to date information, and data storage – this is really significant,” Harkin said. 

In the UK, the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been given formal approval and vaccinations will begin from next week.

Northern Ireland has received 25,000 doses of the vaccine, with vaccinators, staff and residents of care homes, and health and social care workers to be among the first groups to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

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    Mute Ned Gerblansky
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    Dec 6th 2020, 1:52 PM

    Harris preaching about science is gas, the same lad thought there were 19 covids and that’s why it was called Covid 19. Put simply he isn’t the sharpest tool in the box.

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    Mute D Mems
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:04 PM

    @Ned Gerblansky: all the more reason to listen to the doctors rather than the politicians when it comes to thr science

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:10 PM

    @Ned Gerblansky: Minister for Higher education with no degree.

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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:12 PM

    @thesaltyurchin: There is more to education than a degree. His lack of cop-on and self awareness are much more derisory

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    Mute Tom Bombdadil
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:37 PM

    @thesaltyurchin: he had a degree, FG degree in following the party line blindly and kissing the posterior of the man in charge, you can’t learn that in higher education. They teach you to think independently there.

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    Mute VJH
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    Dec 6th 2020, 1:50 PM

    This comes from the guy who said he’d pay the student nurses. Hes full of it.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:22 PM

    @VJH: I wouldn’t have him in charge of a boiling kettle. He is a master of the buzz words but there is nothing behind his bluster.

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 6th 2020, 1:58 PM

    The same man was minister for health during the cervical cancer scandal……yep keep your vaccine maybe take 2 doses youself

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:18 PM

    @▪️: I know that he couldn’t develop anything .But he is promoting them something he knows absolutely nothing about.

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    Mute Paul Mallon
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:19 PM

    @Gary Mullen: you’re s smart one Gary

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:21 PM

    @Ger: not that I don’t like him, more I detest him. And not only would I not listen to his advice, I would not follow it. He is in no position to comment in this manner on a subject he knows nothing about. It’s very similar to Trump advising to drink bleach. You don’t go to a retail assistant for a heart operation, yet you will listen to him on vaccines? Same thing really. But sheep will follow other sheep I suppose.

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:26 PM

    @Paul Mallon: so if harris said that drinking bleach would cure covid I suppose you would be straight down to aldi stocking up on bleach wouldn’t you? Yeah how intelligent of you.

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:12 PM

    @▪️: rigorous trials?

    McConkey, a specialist in infectious diseases at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI), said that “if we had a vaccine that was 100% effective at preventing death in the elderly, in people over 80, over 90, and in the vulnerable, and also to prevent transmission to other people that was widely available then that would be really good”.

    “Unfortunately, in most Phase 3 trials, most of the people who enrol in them are young, healthy people between age 18 and 55, so probably these vaccines do work really well in preventing mild and moderate disease in young, healthy people age 18 to 55, but we know that that’s not really the group that really suffer death or severe illness from Covid-19,” McConkey said.

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:14 PM

    @Ger: well you should do your research on the vaccine that is being rolled out, who it has been tested on and it’s success v failure rates before coming on here and preaching as you look very f ool ish

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:31 PM

    @Ger: do you not watch rte no? Claire Byrne show? Do you have a tv? If you want to take a pop go ahead but you will still come out looking f oolish . No go do what simon told you to do and wear your woolie jumper when you do

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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:34 PM

    @▪️: unfortunately, in most Phase 3 trials, most of the people who enrol in them are young, healthy people between age 18 and 55, so probably these vaccines do work really well in preventing mild and moderate disease in young, healthy people age 18 to 55, but we know that that’s not really the group that really suffer death or severe illness from Covid-19,” McConkey said. DID YOU MISS THIS PART? OR CHOOSE NOT TO READ IT? Go get your woolie jumper on and run with the rest of the sheep Harris is calling you better not be late now

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:38 PM

    @Spongetron: well doctor how am I endangering my health and that of others? What proof do you have? Do you know my routine, where I go who I have been in contact with where I work? No ? Then keep your accusations to yourself

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    Mute D Mems
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:41 PM

    @Gary Mullen: Gary, I know a lot have questioned your logic, which seems to be based upon doing the opposite of some guy you dislike, but you could at least do some basic research about the vacinne. I say this because the minister will most likely to not follow your approach and actually take 2 doses, for no other reason that 2 doses is actually what the doctors recommend. Feel free to rant about Harris all you want, but the least you could do is determine if his statements have validity, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:30 PM

    @D Mems: I never stated at any point that I would not take a tried and tested vaccine. I did state I would not take it just because harris says so. Harris has no medical background neither do I, so if I was to listen to harris it would be the same as the girl in Tesco telling me to take it, and I wouldn’t listen to her either. A stopped clock is right twice a day but the rest of the day it’s wrong and those wrongs well out weight the rights, bit like harris. How ever it seems that everyone on the journal has become a medical scientist of the highest standard since the first lockdown, particularly if you go against their beliefs. I will take a vaccine if I want to not if harris or any one else thinks I should.

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:31 PM

    @Spongetron: yeah, but I’m actually old enough to be your dad, I just hope I’m not!

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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:33 PM

    @▪️: do you know anyone involved in the trials you or old? No you don’t , my point exactly, have you seen the side effects from the trials? No you haven’t . So when you have concrete proof please share it , not something that you Believe is proof but actual proof

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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:38 PM

    @Gary Mullen: Gary, all due respect, what on Earth are you talking about. I linked the data a few comments above and you ignored it.

    In Moderna’s Phase III, 7,000+ people over 65 were included, comprising a quarter of the total trial population.

    Pfizer’s Phase III had 94% efficacy in over 65s and they too had thousands of elderly included in their trial.

    Are you going to ignore that too? What exactly are you trying to say that disputes this data?

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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:45 PM

    @▪️: Pfizer will release the data of all the great trials that work. But they don’t tell you about the ones that don’t work , the ones that go wrong and the mistakes made in the process. Same as any drug manufacturing company. If you want to believe everything you read go ahead, doesn’t make it true, makes you a f ool . And all due respect if you want to take the vaccine go ahead I’m not telling you not too, that’s free will. The same free will that I have to refuse a vaccine that has been rushed to get it on a shelf in less than 12 months.

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:46 PM

    But sure hey, could be hit by a car tomorrow. I’ll take my chances and you can take yours, I ain’t going to force you not to take it as your opinion differs from mine. Same way as your not going to guilt trip me into taking something thing that’s has not been fully tested.

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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:58 PM

    @James Joseph: says who?

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    Dec 6th 2020, 5:04 PM

    @James Joseph: your actually starting to sound like harris that’s exactly a statement he would come out with . If I choose to take it or not you will never know. If you think your going to try guilt me into taking an interest product well your wasting your time. You are not the first and you won’t be the last. If you want to take it go ahead but know this people will die either way be it from age, a disease, an accident or natural causes and there ain’t Nothing you can do about that. Mr Harris was in charge of the hse as the Minister for health during the cervical cancer scandal. He has done audacity to speak about va health issue to anyone

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    Dec 6th 2020, 5:45 PM

    @Gavin Courtney: maybe you should, I know more than Harris but then again a cow in a field would know more then him so that’s not difficult. But I have common sense, something a lot of ppl on here don’t have.

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    Dec 6th 2020, 6:06 PM

    @Gary Mullen:
    Says who you ask? Says those who manufactured the drug. Says the relevant experts in the field who peer reviewed the drug. Says the standard required for every drug and every vaccine around the world to go on the market. But I guess your dislike for the minister invalidates the scientific evidenced. If I sound like Harris that is because he is also quoting the relevant scientific evidence. I never heard such a childish argument in my life.
    I am not trying to guilt you into taking anything. Like I said above it is was your choice whether you take it or not. I am just stating facts. If you choose to dismiss the facts simply because the minister has stated the same facts well then thats just a testament to the lack of your own intellectual capacity.

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    Dec 6th 2020, 6:10 PM

    @Gary Mullen:
    People will die from other things you say. Of course they will Einstein. Does that mean that we should stop all research into cancer simply because people die anyway?
    What is it that you think Harris been the minister for health during the cervical cancer scandal got to do with a vaccine to put an end to world wide health pandemic? According to you the cervical cancer scandal makes no difference as people die anyway. Oh the irony. Lol. Make your minds which is it?

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 6th 2020, 6:14 PM

    @James Joseph: your not trying to guilt trip by stating “You have the freedom to take or not take the vaccine. But know this. If you choose not to take it, you are putting your health, the health of those closest to you and possible your and their lifes at risk. That’s the bottom line and it is as simple as that irrespective of what you think of the minister.” well then what exactly are you trying to do? Seriously looks like guilt tripping from here.

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 6th 2020, 6:17 PM

    @James Joseph: its the point that harris is promoting telling people to take the vaccine or did you miss that? Your a bit t hick aren’t you? Did you receive a brain injury as a child or have you another reason for your ignorance? Do share please, don’t make it too offensive though the journal police are watching

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Dec 6th 2020, 8:31 PM

    @Gary Mullen:
    Maybe it’s sounds like I’m trying to make you feel guilty because you do feel do feel guilty. I dont know. I’m not responsible for how you feel. It is not of my doing. I’m was merely stating refutable facts. Facts which through this in tread you haven’t even attempted to refute. It is a fact that by not taking the vaccine you are putting your health and possibly life and the health and possibley life of those closest to you at risk. That is not Harris fault. Its yours and yours and yours alone. These are the facts and if they make you feel guilty or not I couldn’t care less.

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    Dec 6th 2020, 8:34 PM

    @Gary Mullen:
    I am well aware of the fact that Harris is promotion the the vaccine. If i didn’t know that was your point I would not be arguing with you in the first place Would I? You have stated your reason from the outset that it is because Harris is promoting the vaccine is why you will not taking it. You are completely dismissing the scientific evidence based on the fact that Harris is promoting the vaccine And therefore for that reason and that reason alone it doesn’t matter to you whether the vaccine works or not. Harris promoting it is enough for you not to take it. And you’re calling me a bit thick. LMAO.

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    Dec 6th 2020, 8:50 PM

    @▪️: you off to bed or going to put on your sheep costume? You still have not supplied any factual evidence to back up your comments probably because there is none, I could easily pull fake information off the net and post it here any one can as you did

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    Dec 6th 2020, 8:54 PM

    @Joe Travers: I never said anything about 5g. 5g is purely fifth generation mobile phone technology, nothing wrong with 5g or 4 or 3g 2g is a bit like yourself, slow. And as far as I’m aware the world is round not flat, but if someone recommend I inject window cleaner into my arm doesn’t mean I’m going to do it no matter who recommended it especially harris. you might want to read the previous comments or have someone read them to you to keep up with the conversation

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    Dec 6th 2020, 8:56 PM

    @SteoG: and what did harris do about it? Exactly nothing, offer a lame apology when it’s too late, sure he could never do anything wrong

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    Dec 6th 2020, 8:59 PM

    @James Joseph: I’ve never taken a flu vaccine, and I’ve never killed anyone with the flu so I’m your “facts” are way wrong there, might want to attempt something more realistic the next time. As for guilt, I’ve nothing to feel guilty about, sorry yes I feel sorry for people like you you that jump at everything harris spouts out

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    Dec 6th 2020, 9:02 PM

    @James Joseph: I’m calling you a thick because your a bit dim like. mary lou could come out and say take it and I still wouldn’t take it, my boss in work could say take it and I still wouldn’t take it. Would you put window cleaner in your arm if harris said it would cure covid? Actually don’t answer that I know already you would

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    Dec 6th 2020, 10:55 PM

    @Gary Mullen:
    There is clearly nothing between your two ears. The flu has nothing to do with the the subject at hand. Nor does it have anything to do with the facts in relation to covid-19. At no point did I say that those facts were my facts. You’re making it up as you go along. The honorable thing to do would be to admit that you got it wrong. But that would require intelligence that you clearly haven’t got.
    I couldn’t care less about your guilt or their lack of. That is just a tactic of yours to deviate away from the facts. Your hated or love of Harris will never change facts. Harris’s approval or disapproval of the vaccine will not change fact either. Your own hatred or love of the facts will not change the facts either. Exactly what part of that do you not understand?

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    Dec 6th 2020, 10:57 PM

    @Gary Mullen: you are literally making up stats from the trials to suit your argument and throwing in words like “probabily” when making your claims about its effectiveness. Read the literature you muppet! Have you wondered why most people are calling you childish? It’s because you are

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    Dec 6th 2020, 11:09 PM

    @Gary Mullen:
    Your comment as full of lies and have absolutely nothing whatsoever got to do with the point that I am making.
    Do you seriously think the those of us who choose to take the vaccine are doing so because Harris has to said so? Newsflash Einstein those of us who will take the vaccine will do so because of what the science has to say and not because of what any politician has to say whether we like said politician or not. It’s not a difficult desion for these us with a brain in our heads to listen to science. And not get knickers in a knot just because a politician we don’t like happens to agree with that science.

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    Dec 6th 2020, 11:35 PM

    @James Joseph: the only Fact you have is Harris is a mupp pet and your not far off him Fact. The rest you can’t prove so what’s your point? Your just looking for an argument while you hide behind your screen waiting for someone to offend you so you can report/block them instead of actually taking part in any sort of a debate, oh if we disagree with you we are wrong. You Sad seriously your sad.

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    Dec 6th 2020, 11:38 PM

    @Ger: fact most vaccines take between 1-5 years you thick this is rolling out in less than 10 months when 12 months ago nobody knew nothing about covid all of a sudden everyone is an expert? Get back in the field with the other sheep Get unless you have something productive to off which you clearly don’t.

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    Dec 6th 2020, 11:41 PM

    @James Joseph: james you’d take a vaccine if the ice cream man told you to take it so your opinion is completely irrelevant. Take the vaccine like a good little boy if that helps you sleep cat night. Maybe if you’re well behaved Santa might bring you a vaccine for Christmas would you like that? You really are a special kind of special ain’t you !

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    Dec 7th 2020, 12:26 AM

    @Gary Mullen:
    Whether Haris is a muppet or a genius is irrelevant to the facts. What part of that are you having difficulty with? The rest I dont have to prove. Science ready has. The only one who was looking for an argument here is you. You actually think that you’re in a position to argue against science. I have never blocked you or reported any of your silly comments. In fact I dont believe I have ever conversed with you before never mind report you. If you had anything at all between your two ears you would know that this conversation would be an impossibility had I blocked you. You accuse me not been able to debate when you keep bringing up the irrelevant. You been wrong has nothing to do with I disagree with you.
    YOU ARE WRONG BECAUSE SCIENCE DISAGREES WITH YOU.

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    Dec 7th 2020, 12:32 AM

    @Gary Mullen:
    I’ll be taking the vaccine because science says I should take the vaccine. My opinion is relevant because it is an informed opinion based on scientific fact. Where as your opinion is nothing other than a childish tantrum refusing to take the vaccine because you dont like Harris. Don’t you think it’s time to grow up and swap your storie books for science books.

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    Dec 7th 2020, 12:38 AM

    @James Joseph: you will take the vaccine because you are told to take it. I’m telling you to take it and you will because you can’t think for yourself. No go take it like a good little boy before you start getting offended

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    Dec 7th 2020, 12:38 AM

    @Gary Mullen: Tell us all what qualifications you have to put you in a better position than all the relevant scientists in relation to the vaccine?
    This should be interesting.

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    Dec 7th 2020, 12:40 AM

    @James Joseph: nope I’m not telling you nothing about my qualifications or my personal life as that is None of you business so jog on

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    Dec 7th 2020, 2:45 AM

    @Gary Mullen: Productive hahaha I an others have given you verifiable stats. All you have offered is conspiracy theories and lies. I’ll leave you with one more fact to prove you wrong again. Yes Covid19 has only been around about a year but virologists have been working on vaccines for other coronavirus for over 10 years, including SARS which is very similar to this. Most of the work was already done and transferred over. Also the reason why most vaccines take so long is because after each stage a manufacturer has to produce findings and request further funding. All of this was fast tracked which you’d know if you actually read studies instead of Facebook comments. Muppet.

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    Dec 7th 2020, 6:01 AM

    @Ger: you are so gullible you would swallow a brick ! You would swallow any crap someone puts out there as long as it sounds fancy and they use BIG words. Do you generally feel inferior to others as you don’t understand the big words so therefore take what they are telling you to be the truth? Not able to think for yourself and question something instead of going with the crowd? Safety in number I suppose. And do tell what conspiracy theories and lies have I put to you? You haven’t given any facts of hard proof to me so get off your high horse before you have an accident.

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    Dec 7th 2020, 9:18 AM

    @Gary Mullen:
    I never asked you about your personal life. Or neither do i have any interest.
    You’re inability to state your “imaginary ” qualifications that puts you in a position to know better than the relevant scientists about the vaccine only stands to prove you are nothing other than bag of wind who hasn’t a clue as to what you are talking about. Where as the rest of us have science to backup our informed opinion.

    Oh and “not telling nothing” by the very definition of the phrase means you are telling me something.

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 7th 2020, 5:22 PM

    @James Joseph: yes we should all listen to you because you know everything there is to know about everything, jog on would you! I’m not the only one that will not be taking the vaccine and if people like you are talking it I’m definitely staying away from it altogether. Put on your willy jumper and go out to the field with the other sheep

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Dec 8th 2020, 3:32 AM

    @Gary Mullen:
    Yet again you prove that there is absolutely nothing between your two ears. I never said you should listen to what I have to say on the matter. I am saying that the expert scientists are the ones we should listen to. Exactly what part of the that are you having trouble getting in to your th**k head? Buy far the vast majority of people will listen to what the science have to says and act accordingly.
    Yes I am well aware that you are not alone with your Conspiracy theories. There are other id**t like you who have dreamt up your own conspiracy theories without a shred of evidence to support them.
    Why don’t you try and refute my argument instead of putting words in my mouth.

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 8th 2020, 1:30 PM

    @James Joseph: nobody is putting words in your mouth, sure nobody can get a word in edgeways with all the ranting your doing. And keep up the insults towards my intelligence, the journal police are watching exactly what you’re writing. Insulting others just goes to show the exact type of personality you use. Can’t hold a debate so you reduce to insulting someone’s intelligence. Someone whom is actually more intelligent than youself.

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    Dec 8th 2020, 1:31 PM

    @James Joseph: you should quit now john before you embarrass yourself baby more.

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Dec 8th 2020, 2:14 PM

    @Gary Mullen:
    Practically every comment you have said is nothing other than putting word’s in my mouth. You haven’t even addressed one single point I have put to you in relation to the subject matter and you think you are intelligent. Lol.
    The best you can do is call my factual points ranting. Yes there is NOTHING BETWEEN YOUR TWO EARS. That is not an insult. It is a statement of FACT. But then again you are not very good with facts are you!!!! Your paranoia is getting the better of you. You think the big bad vaccine man is out to get you. He is not.The vaccine is peer reviews the same way all Medication is peer reviewed before it is rollout to the general public. Wake up man. You are not just an embarrassment to yourself. You are an embarrassment to man kind.

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 8th 2020, 3:15 PM

    @James Joseph: yes John your 100% right, we should follow you into war. You can produce unproven facts that you find on wickepedia and everyone should believe you and follow you and it we decide to speak against you you will insult us because you can’t do anything else. Yes John keep going we will pay you by the letter on top of your dole

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Dec 9th 2020, 2:21 AM

    @Gary Mullen:
    The name is James. Not John.
    Yes I know I’m 100-percent right.
    What part of proven peer reviewed facts do you not understand? It takes a special kind of st***d to to claim peer reviewed facts are false. Do you even know what peer reviewed means? And what makes you think that I sourced my information from Wikipedia? I never said anybody should believe me but rather I advise people to look at the facts from reliable sources. Yet again you try to put words in my mouth because you can’t even address subject at hand. You are fooling nobody. What you believe or not is of no relevance to me. There will always be id***s like you who don’t have the intellectual capacity to know the difference between factual information and conspiracy theories. Agin truth is not an insult.

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 9th 2020, 8:57 AM

    @James Joseph: well John, James, Joseph,Power, what ever name your calling youself these days, 288 people agreed with my original point so looks like I’m not on my own. Where is your evidence to support your claims? Where is your evidence to prove me wrong John? Send us the link to the trials that went right and don’t forget to include the ones that went wrong. You can’t handle the Fact your not always right John no can you ? Nope makes you out to be a bit of an I d I oohhh it John.

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Dec 10th 2020, 4:01 PM

    @Gary Mullen:
    What makes you think that my name is John??? Do you want a copy of my birthday cert?Typical paranoid conspiracy theorist.

    288 likes from fellow conspiracy theorist sheep who think random posts on Facebook is a legitimacy news source doesn’t make you right. Practically every comment from others on this tread have proven you wrong. Comments that you haven’t even been able to refute.
    Newsflash Einstein you are the one who is making the accusation. Therfore it is up to you to provide evidence to support your conspiracy theories.
    Yet again you don’t seem to be able to comprehend the fact that this is not a matter of weather I am right or wrong. It is a matter of weither legitimate scientific research or conspiracy theorists like yourself are right or wrong.

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 10th 2020, 11:33 PM

    @James Joseph: Now John Joe, Your spreading miss information like a virus if you will excuse the pun! I have been advised not to engage with you any further for the fear you may do harm to yourself or onto others through both your words and your actions. So in order to save you from any harm I have to cease engagement with you. I know you might find this news hard to swallow but it’s for your own good and everyone else’s too. Be good John Joe.

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Dec 11th 2020, 6:53 PM

    @Gary Mullen:
    Well I have to say. That decision is probably one of the best decisions you have ever made. Now all you have to do is keep it shut and learn something.

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    Mute Gary Mullen
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    Dec 12th 2020, 12:48 AM

    @James Joseph: Now John Joe, Your spreading miss information like a virus if you will excuse the pun! I have been advised not to engage with you any further for the fear you may do harm to yourself or onto others through both your words and your actions. So in order to save you from any harm I have to cease engagement with you. I know you might find this news hard to swallow but it’s for your own good and everyone else’s too. Be good Joe john .

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    Mute Jean Farrelly
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:03 PM

    If he believes in medical experts and science; why won’t they allow Professor Dolores Cahill and many other medical experts who opposed the government and Covid an open debate ??

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    Mute Blue Avians
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:22 PM

    @Tommy Roche: I think she has a qualified point of view, you just don’t want to get out of your comfort zone and listen.

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Dec 6th 2020, 5:06 PM

    @Blue Avians: I have listened to her latest claims regarding the SARS-COV-2 vaccines, she makes a dubious claim that the vaccines will cause deaths of vaccinated people in Winter or Spring if they contract common cold coronaviruses via an immune system reaction known as “immune enhancement” (Th2 immunopathology).

    To lay people, who do not know much about vaccine development, this appears to be a plausible danger and her inaccurate clams can mislead. She is using her science knowledge to make up sciency sounding claims that are not true.

    Immune enhancement was seen in animal experiments with many vaccines before, it is a well known phenomenon, it was also seen in early vaccines developed for the SARS virus (the virus that appeared in 2002-03 that had a fatality rate of 15%). This well known problem, it is carefully and rigorously avoided in modern vaccine development (see below).

    Also, she claim that vaccinated people will die if they catch common cold coronavirus via cross reactivity, this is also untrue, as the SARS-COV-2 vaccine specifically targets the S Spike protein found only on the SAR-COV-2 virus. Other coronaviruses do not used the same S Spike protein, so there is no risk of cross reactivity i.e. the immune system of vaccinated people will not attack common cold coronaviruses.

    So..

    1. Modern vaccines are designed to avoid immune enhancement, they achieve this by stimulating a different part of the immune system.

    2. The other common cold coronaviruses do not have a similar spike protein that is targeted by SARS-COV-2 vaccines, so there’s no risk of cross reactivity.

    News Feature: Avoiding pitfalls in the pursuit of a COVID-19 vaccine
    https://www.pnas.org/content/117/15/8218

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    Mute NotaWarder
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    Dec 6th 2020, 5:57 PM

    @David Jordan: great post.
    I wish you or someone like you could meet Cahill on a public forum so you can calmly and reasonably explain everything wrong with her claims for all too see.
    Shutting her out appear to give her more credit to some.

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    Mute SteoG
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    Dec 6th 2020, 8:15 PM

    @Blue Avians: She has rejected science to become a politician. She is not speaking as a scientist she is appealing to those that would vote for her. Whatever qualifications she had she has literally thrown in the bin talking rubbish. Just like Alfred Russell Wallace who published his work alongside Darwin and came to the same conclusions as him. He ruined his reputation dabbling in spirituality and anti vaxxer nonsense. No one remembers his good work, most people don’t even know of him. Darwin is known by everyone.

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    Mute Blue Avians
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    Dec 6th 2020, 9:45 PM

    @▪️: who’s agreeing? I just want to hear open and honest debate. If she is such a quack then debate with her. Listening to scientists who are paid by big pharma isn’t unbiased research.

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    Mute Spongetron
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    Dec 6th 2020, 10:49 PM

    @Blue Avians: you’ve no evidence that the majority of the scientific community are paid by big pharma and you’ve only chosen to believe that because it fits your narrative

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Dec 7th 2020, 6:45 AM

    @Jean Farrelly: Wakefield was qualified. Enough said.

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    Mute Jonny Braavo
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:02 PM

    No room for pseudoscience, but there is plenty of room for transparency and accountability. All the human trial data for each vaccine need’s to be published in easily digestible information for the general public, as well as the list of possible side efffects for specific groups of people. Furthermore, the vaccine compensation scheme needs to be enacted alongside any large scale role out. Judge Meenan’s Expert Group report on this subject also needs to be published to ensure we have no repeat of people who suffer disability’s from vaccines being dragged through the courts as was the case Pandemrix.

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    Mute mar
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:01 PM

    Exactly. They should all listen to Tom from the comments section of Thejournal. Vaccines are are just fine 100%. They don’t have side effects and have never caused injury to anybody. Just take it even if you don’t need it at all you tin foil hatters.

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    Mute Liam McLiam
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:10 PM

    @mar: Was the Swine flu vaccine harmless?

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    Mute KilkennyProud
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:26 PM

    @Liam McLiam: Are you at risk of contracting the swine flu Liam?

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    Mute Tom Cullen
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:32 PM

    @mar: I’m a Tom, can I point out a couple of things? Approximately 400 million people died of Small Pox between 1900 and 1979. Since 1979, there have been no deaths worldwide from Small Pox. Vaccines. Between the years of 1600-1800, roughly 25% of all European deaths were due to Tuberculosis. How many people do you personally know that have died from TB in the last 30 years. Vaccines. Life expectancy in the early 1800s, about 35 years. Life expectancy today, about 75 years. Vaccines. Your argument is equatable to your house being on fire but refusing to use a fire extinguisher because the powder might come back and hit you in the eye. Problem is, your house is on a terrace and you’re putting everybody else’s home at risk.

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:36 PM

    @Liam McLiam: It wasn’t “the” Swine flu vaccine. It was one particular vaccine from one particular company that caused an adverse reaction in a tiny minority of those who received it. It’s a bit disingenuous to constantly refer to it as “the swine flu vaccine” when it was just one of many swine flu vaccines and there were no adverse reaction reports with any of the others.

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    Mute FlyingDogThing
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:38 PM

    @Tom Cullen: The nutters think smallpox was eradicated by people washing their hands. Can’t make it up.

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    Mute ▪️
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:51 PM

    @FlyingDogThing: Amazing. Sure all we need to do for Covid is just wash our hands more furiously and it should be gone in no time! Vaccines be damned.

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    Mute Trevor Donoghue
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    Dec 6th 2020, 9:17 PM

    @mar: I agree, however, this has absolutely nothing to do with any vaccine previously used in human history. Totally new way of doing it. Up until December 2020, no mRNA vaccine, drug, or technology platform, had ever been approved for use in humans, and before 2020, mRNA was only considered a theoretical or experimental candidate for use in humans. Still getting the shot though.

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    Mute Tony Kirwan
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    Dec 7th 2020, 12:40 AM

    @mar: The idea that vaccines are 100% fine is 100% incorrect. All vaccines have side effects. In most cases, people experience none. But others experience effects ranging from mild to extreme, even life threatening! Similar to the coronavirus itself. Other vaccines would have gone through much longer testing and clinical trials than these. The shortened processes to clear these vaccines would raise serious concerns for the safety of them. In the end, it’s a decision for everyone to take – whether the unknown risks of the vaccines outweigh the known risks of contracting the virus. So the more information we have, the better informed we can be in making a decision.

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    Mute Claude Saulnier
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    Dec 6th 2020, 1:53 PM

    Any update on how well the app is doing to reduce the spread of the virus?

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    Mute Niall Ó Cofaigh
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    Dec 6th 2020, 5:15 PM

    @Claude Saulnier: now that is a good question. I see Aer Lingus suggest that people arriving into the country should have to have the app downloaded. I also read that someone, a nightclub (not in Ireland) was interested in the idea that only people with the app would be admitted as a condition they proposed for opening safely, so that everyone could be tracked and traced if necessary. I do not think that is a bad idea to have an app scanner at the door of all pubs and restaurants and theaters and cinemas and allow them to open on that condition. But I can hear the protesters already crying foul and “big brother” but some might like the idea of the thought that they could go to the (wet) pub and have a pint more safely and know if someone there became infected…. (I am in favour of the app in case readers cannot tell).

    However I think the issue with the battery draining owing to a google play issue (and not the app issue as I understand it) saw a lot of people uninstall the app because the phone was overheating or the battery going flat quickly and some may not have not re-installed.

    But it would be interesting to see some stats, but the idea that people in “close contact” have to isolate for a period and have two tests (if the first is negative) is not appealing, but it would be interesting to see how many “close contacts” were positive and therefore the criteria used by the app to ascertain “close contact” range, distance and time.

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    Mute NotaWarder
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    Dec 6th 2020, 8:33 PM

    @Niall Ó Cofaigh: the big brother issue is one that should concern people more.
    In the scenario you proposed it sounds like a good idea. Can’t find anything wrong with it.

    But those powers/capabilities are rife for misuse, and I’ve no faith in the Irish establishment or big tech to use it honestly.

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    Mute Trevor Donoghue
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    Dec 6th 2020, 9:19 PM

    @Claude Saulnier: Doing well, people are glued to their phones , so always looking down instead of up, so the virus is been directed to the ground instead of towards other peoples faces, big help.

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    Mute Claude Saulnier
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    Dec 6th 2020, 10:35 PM

    @Niall Ó Cofaigh: it cannot work for the purpose it was supposingly design for.

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:25 PM

    Big words from a dropout.

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:50 PM

    @Paul Mc:
    That still doesn’t invalidate the message.

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    Mute James
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:52 PM

    No room for having an alternative view he means

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    Mute EvieXVI
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:04 PM

    @James: some people believe the earth is flat, and they’re entitled to believe that. But they’re wrong.

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    Mute Spongetron
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:30 PM

    @James: there’s alternate views and then there’s being straight up wrong, if I choose to believe my dog is actually a cat I’m still wrong

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    Mute Bee Bonthuys
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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:42 PM

    @James: Oh the “I’m thinking for my self!” bit.

    That’s totally cool and so on trend but there are also these people called scientists…who have these things called degrees and do a weird thing called research.

    They might not be that pop on Facebook but I’m willing to give them chance.

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    Mute Joseph Duggan
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:26 PM

    Doctors. nurses experts have being telling you for years how to fix our broken health service did you listen why are you listening now is it because it’s getting lots of attention two faced

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    Mute Pharmy
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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:12 PM

    @Joseph Duggan: doctors and nurses are not experts in service delivery or equitable distribution of resources, nor are they the only healthcare professionals. I sines rely hope that the minister for health is listening to virologists, epidemiologists and immunologists.

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    Mute Hugo Bugo
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:04 PM

    The people attacking or slagging off people who say they don’t want to or won’t take the vaccine, what the hell is wrong with u people, if u want to take it, take it, if your whole family want to take it take it, if your parents and grandparents want to take it, take it, all good, more power to u and yours but don’t be sticking your noses into what the rest of us want to do, I will and other who don’t want to take it have the right to make out own mind up, it don’t matter if we are right or wrong, it’s not your decision to tell me what to have injected into my body, i laugh at the Karen on Facebook said retorts, I will take my age group category and my 99%+ chance of this virus not putting a dent in me and tell them thanks but no thanks, I’m good

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    Mute DK
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:19 PM

    @Hugo Bugo: But if everyone had the same attitude as yours and decided not to take the vaccine then we’ll have the current restrictions and further lockdowns for years to avoid hospitals being overwhelmed. I assume you don’t want this and want life to go back to some form of normality? So you are hoping lots of people take the vaccine so you get the best of both, back to normality and no vaccine for you. Is this what you want or want do you want? If this is want you want do you not find your actions selfish?

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    Mute Spongetron
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:35 PM

    @Hugo Bugo: the virus is more likely to harm you than any vaccine

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    Mute Gere
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:38 PM

    @DK: It is called freedom of choice, something that seem to have disappeared in the last 9 months.

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    Mute Hugo Bugo
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:56 PM

    @Spongetron: then so be it, I will fall on my own sword then, but at least I will die knowing I died a free man in a free country

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    Mute Spongetron
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:59 PM

    @Gere: there is freedom of choice as its not mandatory, yet some people feel their freedoms are violated when people debunk their conspiracy theories. Basically it’s a case of “how dare you prove me wrong with science!”

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    Mute Spongetron
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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:00 PM

    @Hugo Bugo: that’s a tad dramatic William Wallace

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    Mute Hugo Bugo
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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:30 PM

    @Spongetron: yea in the middle of all this “I have to get vaccinated to save the planet” I’m the dramatic one

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    Mute Spongetron
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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:59 PM

    @Hugo Bugo: save the planet? No, save your granny though? maybe

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    Mute Niall Ó Cofaigh
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    Dec 6th 2020, 5:41 PM

    @Hugo Bugo: you are not and never were and never will be a free man unless you go and live solo on a deserted island.

    You are bound by the laws and the rules of the society that you live in so you are not free to kill, or rob, or assault, or defraud to even to walk around with a notifiable infectious disease as covered in the health act of 1947 and the society you were born into or choose to live in have enacted the following

    Section 31. “2. The requiring of adult persons to submit themselves, or the parents of children to submit such children, to examinations by registered medical practitioners to find out whether such adult persons or children are probable sources of infection and the requiring of such adult persons or parents to afford to such practitioners all reasonable facilities for such examinations, including the permission to take blood or other specimens for examinations or tests.”
    “3. The requiring of adult persons to submit themselves, or the parents of children to submit such children, to specified measures in relation to the protection or immunisation of such adult persons or children against a particular infectious disease.”

    http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1947/act/28/enacted/en/print.html

    Your “Free to do as you wish” ship sailed in 1947 – but actually it did a long time before and as far back as 2000 year or more when certain people were excluded from society, rightly or wrongly, because of illness

    The 1947 act was passed by the majority of the elected representatives of the people of Ireland and covid-19 was added to the list of illnesses covered by the act by the majority of the elected representatives of the people in 2020.

    It is of course open to anyone to lobby for a change in the law, or appeal to the courts that a law is unconstitutional or even to stand for election and seek support to change the laws,. until then you are NOT free to break the laws of the land you live in. I add that I am not in favour of forced vaccinations and much of the legislation was to cover TB but it has helped with Polio and Measles as well as we rarely hear of death from these in Ireland so certainly this legislation has proved useful in the past s well as the present.

    It is of course open to anyone to seek to move to another country where these laws may not exist. However, some countries require you to have a Yellow Fever vaccination passport before admitting people, even as a tourist, when taking certain routes (The WHO have a full list of countries and routes where Polio and Yellow Fever vaccinations are required for entry). So you see you are not even free on the world stage.

    Some other aspects of the law and I wonder if item 11 actually allows authorised persons to enter a house – anyway, thankfully we have not the need to enforce many measures as most people understand the need without it having to be enforced

    5. The requiring of adult persons to remain away from specified places or the parents of children to keep the children away from specified places.

    6. The prohibition of parents of children suffering from infectious disease from sending the children to, or permitting them, to attend, school.

    7. The restriction of the attendance at school of children who are probable sources of infection with infectious diseases, and the duty of parents to ensure compliance with the restrictions.

    9. Restrictions on the use of public conveyances by persons suffering from infectious disease.

    10. The powers and duties of owners and persons in charge of public conveyances as regards persons conveyed therein who are probable sources of infection with infectious diseases.

    11. The inspection of buildings and structures, vehicles, vessels and aircraft.

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    Mute Martin Mason
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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:43 PM

    Any government that uses coercive measures to enforce the use of a medical drug on the population is committing a crime against humanity.

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    Mute Spongetron
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    Dec 6th 2020, 5:01 PM

    @Martin Mason: the journal is known far and wide for overly dramatic comments, but this one, this one is the cream of the melodramatic crop

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    Mute Pseud O'Nym
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    Dec 6th 2020, 5:12 PM

    @Spongetron: Martin’s Twitter feed is worth a read if you need a bit of a laugh. You couldn’t make up the crâp he’s into.

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    Mute Spongetron
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    Dec 6th 2020, 5:30 PM

    @Pseud O’Nym: yeah I looked at it, the lad has lost his marbles

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    Mute Martin Mason
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    Dec 7th 2020, 12:55 AM

    @Pseud O’Nym: Yes, worth a read, you might learn something

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    Mute Martin Mason
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    Dec 7th 2020, 1:14 AM

    @Spongetron: Says the one who no doubt thinks its perfectly normal to wear a mask and stand two metres apart from their fellow human beings at all times, says the one who no doubt thinks being under house arrest and being encouraged to stay away from their own family is perfectly normal. Says the one who believes there is a pandemic but doesn’t know anyone who has it. I think I have more marbles than you

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    Mute Spongetron
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    Dec 7th 2020, 2:12 PM

    @Martin Mason: you assume I know no with the disease? tell that to my dad

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    Mute Brian McDonnell
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:53 PM

    I know that this may be controversial, but it should be Mandatory that every one in the country who can have a vacation should have one.
    Now let us see who reads that properly.

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    Mute Daniel Lehane
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    Dec 6th 2020, 4:15 PM

    @Brian McDonnell: can you prove that vacations are safe? Vacations are being pushed by Dr ‘Lockdown’ Holohan. He can keep his vacation, and take mine as well. I know someone had a vacation before and had a sore arm after. And they’re saying everyone needs 2 vacations for full efficacy! I’m so angry I’ll never read science or take a vacation again.

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    Mute Pseud O'Nym
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    Dec 6th 2020, 5:15 PM

    @Daniel Lehane: knew it was only a matter of time before the anti-vacation brigade arrived

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    Mute James Joseph
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    Dec 6th 2020, 8:40 PM

    @Daniel Lehane:
    FACE PALM

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    Mute Spongetron
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:35 PM

    “Yeah but Harris did so and so” is an interesting way to say you believe in the pseudoscience on Facebook. I’m no fan of Harris, but it’s not like he’s wrong here

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    Mute Spongetron
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:47 PM

    The last bastion of the anti vaxxer is internet comment sections, all spelling mistakes and links to youtube videos

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    Mute Esther Moser
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    Dec 6th 2020, 11:38 PM

    That’s great, no scare mongering, no conspiracy. That’s why every GP will sign a legal document for each patient that applying the vaccine will have no long- or short term side effects and if, he/ she will prove legally responsible. Wake up.

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    Mute Liam O'Connell
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    Dec 6th 2020, 5:51 PM

    Simon ‘Oh God I really do love the sound of my own voice’ Harris.

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    Mute Braonain Proinseas
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:27 PM

    Lets roll it out, stop talking about it. Get your fingers out.

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    Mute Pauline Fedigan
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    Dec 6th 2020, 10:06 PM

    WHO IS HE AGAIN?????

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    Mute Yolita Ferue
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    Dec 7th 2020, 6:32 AM

    I’d have no problem taking a vaccine if it wasn’t fast-tracked for approval and the pharmaceutical giants manufacturing them didn’t have immunity from legal prosecution.
    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-pfizer-vaccine-legal-indemnity-safety-ministers-b1765124.html
    At the end of the article, there’s a reference to the vaccine damages payments act and “a payment of £120,000 to people who are permanently disabled and harmed as a result of listed vaccination.” Do government officials really think financial compensation is going to make up for a lifetime of a newly acquired disability? Doing that and demanding total compliance from the public is setting a dangerous precedent for the future of human rights.
    Let’s also take into account that there’s a clear difference between people who are anti-vax and those who are critics of the pharmaceutical industry astronomically profiting off human suffering. Conflating the two is nothing short of defamatory.

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    Mute Jakie McLean
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    Dec 7th 2020, 5:39 AM

    Does he know that he is no longer minister for health? He seems to think he still is as he is forever commenting on health issues. Just as Varadkar still thinks he’s Taoiseach

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    Mute Paul Glackin
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    Dec 7th 2020, 12:07 PM

    @Jakie McLean: I rarely see him commenting on health issues even if he would have gained a huge knowledge on the subject. Varadkar is allowed to give his opinion?

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    Mute Breda Kelly
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:57 PM

    Wait for the Jennas.

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    Mute Breda Kelly
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    Dec 6th 2020, 2:58 PM

    @Breda Kelly: Jemma’s.

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    Mute SquintEastwood
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    Dec 6th 2020, 3:25 PM

    @Breda Kelly: try again

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    Mute Santa
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    Dec 6th 2020, 6:25 PM

    Karen said they are used to change our brains so we become compliant, she also told me that when I’m stopped by the Gardai I should tell them I’m travelling and not driving my car, apparently i won’t need tax or insurance if I do that

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    Mute Paul Glackin
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    Dec 7th 2020, 12:10 PM

    @Santa: great theory, and let us know how you get on?

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    Mute Paul Glackin
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    Dec 7th 2020, 11:58 AM

    I agree, the butcher knows less about covid than specialists, our politicians consult the specialists rather than the butcher or the Baker, and we have a vaccine and if the guy with the Leeds logo does not want to avail of it, then he shouldn’t but stop trying trying to influence people about something he knows nothing about.

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    Mute Trevor Donoghue
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    Dec 6th 2020, 9:23 PM

    I’m still getting the shot, and a shotgun, and a zombie survival kit. just in case. I’ve seen this exact same plot in so many movies so taking no chances. “Revolutionary new vaccine technology never used before to help stop the spread of a highly contagious virus that is spreading all over the world”

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    Mute Paul Glackin
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    Dec 7th 2020, 7:43 AM

    What people and what numbers in each age groups were part of the test, you wouldn’t want to look foolish

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    Mute Paul Glackin
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    Dec 7th 2020, 12:01 PM

    @Paul Glackin: the lad with the Leeds logo

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