Is that really the sole rationale? What about polio vaccination? I believe that vaccine is mandated in schools to protect children, not to keep healthcare systems from becoming overwhelmed.

I would clarify the sole rationale for the Covid situation.

Covid is not particularly dangerous to the young and healthy.

The danger is that the small percentage of people who become seriously ill is still enough to overwhelm a health system, as it is so contageous.

You’re assuming that it’s the only rationale for the Covid situation, but whether or not that is true is exactly what we’re discussing :)

I'm referring to the situation in the UK.

The sole rationale for restrictions and vaccinations has been to stop our healthcare system from being overwhelmed.

That's the way it was presented by the government to the public. It wasn't the rationale, for example, to wait for a vaccine to reduce the chances of some individuals from getting longer term symptoms of the disease, given there are any proven.

If our healthcare system was somehow able to handle every case, there would have been no rationale for restrictions.