Elimination solves a lot of problems. We can live, socialise and work here unrestricted again. Hospitals can resume their customary role in treating other serious diseases.
Imports and exports continue unimpeded. International travel and immigration would remain restricted, in terms of strict quarantine at this end.
Spending 2 or 3 weeks in quarantine and achieving a negative test to enter a covid-free country doesn't seem very daunting, especially as other places get even worse.
I don't think the economic benefits over time of a large, covid-free country have really been considered, in the context of the global pandemic continuing apace, elsewhere.
It is hard to judge if expectations of an effective vaccine are realistic, optimistic or misplaced.
Some, like Professor Frazer, say there may never be a vaccine. On the other hand, tremendous resources have been co-operatively brought to bear on it and confidence has been expressed in some quarters. There have certainly been terrific strides in developing other anti-viral medications.
If there were a vaccine, it remains to be seen whether subsequent herd-immunity would result, when post-infection antibodies may be short-lived.
Would the vaccine remain effective, if it had to be used say, every 3 months?
Would the reduced development time mean reduced human trialling and effectively testing it via widespread use?
Overall, treating it primarily as a health threat to be eliminated makes sense to me and anyway, the problems with international travel, tourism and immigration will continue whichever path we choose.
