Day: 22 November 2021

A summary of all the most interesting stories that have appeared about politicians’ efforts to control the virus — and other acts of hubris and folly – not just in Britain, but around the world.

The topics under discussion this week's London Calling are Austria's mandatory vaccination policy, the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse, the upcoming trial of Ghislaine Maxwell and Boris's chaotic speech to the CBI.

Lord Sumption has written a blistering comment piece for the Telegraph, attacking the draconian measures being rolled out across continental Europe.

The logic of vaccine passports and other restrictions on unvaccinated people is based on a misplaced faith in the effectiveness of the Covid vaccines.

A YouGov poll has found that 62% of the British public support making the booster jab mandatory, with only 25% being opposed to the idea.

It makes "little sense" to impose vaccine passports, an expert panel of scientists has told MPs, since Government data indicates that vaccinated people "are now more likely to be infected than the unvaccinated".

The Kenyan Government aims to inoculate 20% of the population by late December, even though this is when it plans to prohibit the unvaccinated from entering many indoor spaces.

A new study looks at vaccine effectiveness against severe outcomes among people who had Covid. While effectiveness against death was marked in those under 60, it was small and non-significant in those over 60.

Germany's Tourism Commissioner has said that it was the wrong decision not to implement mandatory vaccination much earlier, and now believes that the policy will soon be introduced by the German Government.

Despite a previous Commons Select Committee report concluding that the scheme was a colossal waste of money, Test and Trace is continuing to spend over £1 million a day in taxpayer money on consultants.