Fiona Bruce invites covid anti-vaxxers on QT

If the anti- vaxxers all catch covid from each other will they then want to sue the BBC for putting them in danger?

Id be happy for Newsnight, or Panorama, to run such a debate in controlled conditions, where the background of any participants can be vetted, and where the Panel is very experienced with the right scientific/medical credentials are given proper time to respond. QT is not the right place and format.

When people say that freedom of speech is paramount- how far would you go. Would you accept it if FB invited people on the next venue to explain why they think it is valid to be antisemitic, or to cure cancer with prayers and homeopathy, or whether it is fine for MPs to dismissed for being too Muslim, er .... There must be limits to the air given to extreme views- especially when participants are not vetted properly, and the Panel not given time to respond properly, with evidence.

IF they vet the candidates Kali. Somehow the National Front woman 'slipped' through. Although it later turned out there was someone with far right links, who worked on the programme who got her on.

Yes, I remember this very well. the vetting and picking for QT has been very biased in the past. Several of those examples were highlighted.

In a programme like Newsnight, Peston or Panorama, etc- the number of participants if much smaller, and it is much easier for the participants to be properly vetted and for the discussion/debate to be moderated in a balanced way.

The answer to most of that is yes kali because the dangers of restricting speech are so great. QT gave a platform to the leader of the BNP it was the best thing they could have done. Who would you trust to decide what views are acceptable?

As an aside I think QT as a format for political debate is as useful as In the Night Garden but that besides the point.

Galaxy Yes I remember the BNP guy on QT and he made a real fool of himself.
I have mixed feelings about anti-vaxxers being on, but I thought that about the BNP chap.

Galaxy
Very funny ? and true.

It's just too short and not enough time for analysis. I watched it a few weeks ago, first time in ages, as there was someone on I wanted to see and I was so disappointed. If you only allocate such a short time to each question it's pointless.

QT - ‘More audience participation than the Rocky Horror Show’

(I stole that from Ian Collins)

Jane71

Galaxy Yes I remember the BNP guy on QT and he made a real fool of himself.
I have mixed feelings about anti-vaxxers being on, but I thought that about the BNP chap.

I remember that. Bonnie Greer, Sayeda Warsi and Jack Straw took him apart. He tried to lie his way the programme, but failed dismally.

Nick Griffin?

I think there should be a balance of vaccinated and unvaccinated and some doctors/vaccine developers, otherwise it might as well be called the 'why not to get vaccinated show'. its too unbalanced

Omicron now has 4 different strains. Unfortunately rapid tests cannot distiguish which of the different varieties we have. It’s possible that people who have had it twice are falling prey to a different variant than the one they had previously.

let's have flat-earthers, those who believe in the Second Coming, and believers in homeopathy while we're at it #lunaticstakenoverasylum

What is the BBC up to they do nothing but undermine the government it's very anti British

Good idea! We have heard from a very narrow spectrum of experts so far on BBC et al.

Another 'Very Well Said' from me Weeducky

I'll probably watch QT out of sheer curiosity about the anti-vaxxers 'reasons' for avoiding the vaccine, especially those who refuse on the grounds that they "won't be told what to do", or conspiracy theories etc. They're the dangerous ones!

Why doesn't it surprise me that all those unvaccinated patients receiving hospital treatment for COVID are more than happy to accept numerous drugs that they know nothing about if it makes them better/saves them.

It’s always interesting to hear their reasons for being anti vaxxers

i don't understand anyone who would have a problem with this tv show with cav on it, don't like it...don't watch it, everyone is entitled to decide if you want the vaccine or you don't, i had just been diagnosed with cancer when i got my first jag and i did ask if i was okay to get it, i have now had all 3 jags but some people have not even had one. the interviews of people in hospital with covid and not having the vaccine is the ones they should show, i have seen and read a few stories of these people saying they wished they had got the vaccine as it nearly and in some cases did cost them there life.

Shutting down debate is the first sign of a genuine attempt to destroy democracy. There are lots of people with very good arguments on the whole vaccination issue, and equally lots of eminent statisticians who point out other interpretations of the figures that are propagandised every day on our media but as soon as they make a posting on social media they are 'no platformed' and have to go underground. It worries me that most people after the event speak well of underground movements that have worked to uphold democracies in the past and yet can't see what's in front of them right now. We need to listen to all points of view and form our own opinions rather than forming the opinion after listening to someone else who says 'no you can't listen to that, it will corrupt you'.

I don’t think QT is the right place for this discussion because there is not enough time.

As some other posters on here have said a moderated scientific discussion with several contributors would be hopefully be more informative and measured.

I think debate should be open to all but QT is becoming entertainment rather than serious discussion.

I for one would love to hear a proper discussion as to why some people decline the vaccination. So far I have only heard:
"I don't want unknown poison put into my body" (but most of us have had preventative vaccinations at some point in our lives?)
"It's a worldwide Government conspiracy to microchip us all" (really?)
"I hate needles" (come on)
I wonder if anti-vaxers would decline insulin if they needed it, or betablockers or any other form of medications if they showed signs of various other illnesses?
Or am I missing something? And yes *Pinkhousegirl" I would love to hear the flat earthers and second coming people puting forward their theories. A Louis Theroux type programme would be good - I think he's very neutral.

You will find that the vaccinated population are not usually the seriously ill with Omicron, but the unvaccinated. They are the ones who end up taking up an intensive care bed and depriving other people who are seriously ill with cancer and other illnesses who desperately need those beds through no fault of their own.