Quebec to introduce a tax for the unvaccinated

[Hairbrush123]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59960689.amp

What are peoples thoughts on this?

@Flaxmeadow I was differentiating between the vaccines and the booster and wasn’t very clear.

Omicron has changed the pandemic and this isn’t being taken into account in government policies.

In certain policies, I should add.
Particularly regarding mandatory vaccines.

@Vargas

Recent headlines show that 60% or more critical care patients are unvaccinated. It's incredibly frustrating for doctors and nurses and incredibly costly to us, the taxpayers, not to mention the emotional toll on family and friends.

So if a tax encourages more people to get vaccinated I think it's worth at least looking into.

But are these ‘unvaccinated’ critical care patients actually being treated for covid or another condition and have just tested positive?

Additionally of all of these ‘unvaccinated’ critical care patients what is the exact definition of ‘unvaccinated’ and are any exempt on medical grounds?

I think the queries about whether unvaccinated Covid positive people in hospital are there "for Covid" or for other reasons is very disingenuous. Why on earth would unvaccinated people be massively over-represented in hospitalisation for non-Covid conditions? Especially given that older and sicker people are more likely to be vaccinated than younger and healthier ones? (With the exception of a very small number unable to be vaccinated for very specific non-allergy health reasons).

I grant you that the question is valid when it comes to the total number Covid positive patients in hospital - which is why it is recorded and reported, but when it comes to the ratio of vaccinated to unvaccinated it's neither here nor there.

Vaccination makes sense at population level.

But if you are one of the few that has nasty/life limiting/life threatening side effects, it's not much consolation, is it? And that's why it should never be compulsory.

@PassingByAndThoughtIdDropIn

I think the queries about whether unvaccinated Covid positive people in hospital are there "for Covid" or for other reasons is very disingenuous. Why on earth would unvaccinated people be massively over-represented in hospitalisation for non-Covid conditions? Especially given that older and sicker people are more likely to be vaccinated than younger and healthier ones? (With the exception of a very small number unable to be vaccinated for very specific non-allergy health reasons).

I grant you that the question is valid when it comes to the total number Covid positive patients in hospital - which is why it is recorded and reported, but when it comes to the ratio of vaccinated to unvaccinated it's neither here nor there.

It’s very here and there if there’s calls for draconian measures on the ‘unvaccinated’ due to them causing issues to critical care, of course the specifics matter, it’s not inconceivable that there are some seriously ill with other conditions which meant that couldn’t be vaccinated and would be misleading to report this as ‘unvaccinated covid patient needing ICU’.

If it were me putting it in place, I would charge a standard covid levy to everyone in the country (say 5k), and then give a discount on this levy (maybe 100%) for those who are vaccinated. This way, nobody is being charged for not being vaccinated, but is being given a rebate for being vaccinated and doing the right thing.

Given I don't see any issue with this at all, short cutting to charging people who are not vaccinated is perfectly fine as well - just more efficient in admin.

Less sure about fining people, as that may add a criminal element - unsure if it does in Austria.

@Turkey98

If it were me putting it in place, I would charge a standard covid levy to everyone in the country (say 5k), and then give a discount on this levy (maybe 100%) for those who are vaccinated. This way, nobody is being charged for not being vaccinated, but is being given a rebate for being vaccinated and doing the right thing.

Given I don't see any issue with this at all, short cutting to charging people who are not vaccinated is perfectly fine as well - just more efficient in admin.

Less sure about fining people, as that may add a criminal element - unsure if it does in Austria.

So people on a low income/benefits are going to take a huge hit if not vaccinated. What a world to live in.

Well, this looks promising. This seems like the right strategy at this point. Not punishing those who didn’t get the vaccine last year.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sajid-javid-to-abandon-covid-passes-as-the-omicron-surge-recedes-nq7cbvgj5#Echobox=1642145255