One in six Aussies say they will never be vaccinated, which means 83% potentially are up for it. And given herd immunity is likely with 75% of us jabbed, that’s good news. However, the faster the vaccine is applied the quicker our economy will get back to normal and while the current economy feels great for many of us, it is being underwritten by a lot of taxpayer money and debt.

The news that the opening up of international borders is starting (with the doors to the EU set to be opened up for fully vaccinated travellers soon) might be a huge incentive for yuppy-addicted tourists, who can’t cope with the cold turkey of not going to the international airport at least once a year, to get themselves vaccinated!

And in case I’m offending you putting the pressure on to get you jabbed, let me throw in that I know some people for medical reasons shouldn’t get vaccinated, but as an economist, I argue that those who can be should be jabbed.

Open borders and 75% of the population vaccinated to give us herd immunity are two huge economic milestones that need to be reached to help normal business conditions prevail.

When that happens, the Government can get serious about killing the deficit. So how do we encourage people to get jabbed?

Worldwide, it’s a carrot or stick approach. And given the fear most politicians have about voters, I suspect the carrot approach will dominate. And I’m happy for that, provided we see 75% of us made safe for others.

Free beer, marijuana and doughnuts are all being offered as incentives to encourage people in the US —a country that knows what’s important to their people! More sedate US states are offering savings bonds “and a chance to win an all-terrain vehicle.” Serbia is offering cash — $40 to do the deed! Detroit has $50 prepaid debit cards.

The Yanks have brought out the ‘carrots’/offers as the nation's slowing vaccination drive causes concerns.

But what about a stick or Soup Nazi approach? There was a Seinfeld episode where a cranky soup-seller would take sets against customers who didn’t order in a designated way. By the way, there was a real world guy whose antics inspired the sketch. When you ordered incorrectly, he would say: “No soup for you!”

Right now the PM and state premiers are talking about a travel passport for those jabbed. That would not only work for overseas travel but even interstate movements here in Australia!

In an interview with Chris Uhlmann of nine.com.au, ScoMo revealed that travel phases could mean Australians would “move more freely around Australia, possibly under vaccination passports, then Australians being able to travel overseas if they have been vaccinated and potentially quarantine at home.”

This could be a risky play for the Government, putting stoppers on Aussies moving around the country, but it might have to be a part of a stick approach to get us to herd immunity at 75%.

Other ideas put forward have been:

• No NRL and AFL footie entry without proof of vaccination.
• No football grand final tickets.
• No rock concerts, cinema tickets and forget going to the Melbourne Cup!
• And what about this nuke option — no jab, no job!

Employers are often put in a difficult position trying to work out the right workplace policy. For example, a staff member accused of bullying a colleague will be given union support, however, if the boss ignored the plight of the bullied, the union would have to support this employee.

It’s a loss for an employer when it comes to workplace dilemmas. “Safe Work Australia has stated that “most employers” do not need to make vaccination mandatory to comply with work health and safety obligations, given the availability of other control measures,” says law firm RK Lawyers.

“Safe Work Australia encourages a risk assessment based on the particular risks of an employer’s operation, such as the likelihood of exposure to infection due to the location and nature of the work, the risk to vulnerable people, and the suitability of other control measures.”

Clearly, this ‘to jab or not to jab’ argument will be allowed to be determined  by individuals until it can be shown that people are out of work and businesses are getting into trouble because of our slowness to vaccinate.

It could end up being a critical determinant to who wins the next election, and it’s why the PM won’t be keen to play hard ball on the subject until after the next poll.