Coronavirus

[GeddyWrox]

I would think that it's possible in the very early stages that that could happen. However, IN THEORY, the vaxxed person's immune system would shut down the virus faster, thus reducing the amount of time that person would be shedding virus. And, you know, also greatly increase the chances that that person does not go to the hospital.

[mikechamp]

All I know is, thank God that when the vaccine is fully approved - which the FDA says they expect by Labor Day - schools can require it just like every other vaccine.

I will concede that does seem to be a very un-FDA-like timeline. It's also the first time I've heard that news. Do you have a link to that announcement?

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/03/us/ ... roval.html

Thanks, man. That was interesting reading.

[cardinalkarp]

If the vaccine keeps you from coughing or breathing hard that's definitely seems like a plus in terms of reducing overall transmission. More transmission than was anticipated from a vaxxed person, but less than there would have been if that person were unvaxxed and exhibiting symptoms.

True, but hopefully the person showing symptoms would quarantine….while the vaccinated person not showing symptoms might just be going about their daily lives (and why wouldn’t they if they feel fine).

[mikechamp]

That is hilarious!

[GeddyWrox]

If the vaccine keeps you from coughing or breathing hard that's definitely seems like a plus in terms of reducing overall transmission. More transmission than was anticipated from a vaxxed person, but less than there would have been if that person were unvaxxed and exhibiting symptoms.

True, but hopefully the person showing symptoms would quarantine….while the vaccinated person not showing symptoms might just be going about their daily lives (and why wouldn’t they if they feel fine).

If this pandemic has shown us ANYTHING, it is that a majority of people are not capable of considering the wellbeing of those around them. "Hoping" people will quarantine is not an effective mitigation strategy.

[heyzeus]

I was in a meeting for about an hour yesterday with a colleague. I wore a mask, he didn't. He tested positive last night. He didn't tell me. Another coworker told me just now, at 11am. I'm furious. If I did contract it, who knows how many people I may have just exposed. Particularly my own family, particularly my son who has a respiratory condition.

I'm also arguing with our managing partner, who refuses to go back to WFH for our firm. She is one of those "I'm over it" covid people. She believes that since we are both vaccinated, and my colleague has no symptoms, he couldn't transmit covid to anyone else. Everything I've read says that is not guaranteed, not with Delta.

[G. Keenan]

Can we return to a few facts?

Fact -- being vaccinated DOES protect you against getting infected with Delta. Not 100%, no vaccine ever created does that for any virus, but substantially. For example, the case of Provincetown, Mass where 965 vaccinated people reported Covid infections after 4th of July weekend and triggered the CDC to revise mask guidance for vaccinated people is held up as evidence the vaccines don't prevent infection. But that is 965 of out 60,000 people there that weekend, an infection rate of 1.6%. Of those 965, only 7 went to the hospital and none died. But let's say 1.6% is low. Some didn't report their symptoms. Some were asymptomatic. Let's say it was double that, or triple that, or hell, let's say 20% of vaccinated people there that weekend caught Delta. A vaccine giving you 80% protection against catching Delta very much WORKS.

Fact -- unvaccinated people can be just as much asymptomatic carriers as vaccinated. Arguments that vaccinated people are acting as super spreaders is both speculation and misses the point. Vaccinated people have 8x less risk of catching Covid than unvaxxed. That lower risk is compounded when everyone interacting is vaxxed. The best way for everyone to not get Covid is for everyone that can be vaxxed, to be vaxxed.

Fact -- Being vaccinated makes an infection much less serious, much less severe, much more survivable. It keeps the hospitals from getting overwhelmed and literally saves lives.

People not wanting to get vaccinated because they are afraid of the vaccine is fine. That's their prerogative. But arguments suggesting that the vaccines are somehow part of the problem or are prolonging the pandemic are complete nonsense.

[cardinalkarp]

Oh, I guess we’re not able to raise any potential concerns of things that haven’t been addressed by the almighty (and ever changing of their opinion) CDC.

If you’re compelled to trust the agency that has continually [expletive] this thing up from the get go, fine. I on the other hand do not.

[redbirdjazzz]

Oh, I guess we’re not able to raise any potential concerns of things that haven’t been addressed by the almighty (and ever changing of their opinion) CDC.

If you’re compelled to trust the agency that has continually [expletive] this thing up from the get go, fine. I on the other hand do not.

What is it, exactly, that would convince you?

[G. Keenan]

You're absolutely able to raise concerns. You're doing it right now, raising them. Nobody is blocking you from doing so. We're here discussing them. I'm observing a pivot in your argument from "I don't trust the vaccines' safety" to "they don't work anyway so why bother" to "maybe the vaccines are actually making it worse." Those arguments fall apart very quickly as soon as confronted with actual empirical evidence. So you then revert to the "I'm just asking questions" fig leaf as a way to shift the argument off of the facts at hand on onto a meta discussion about the government.

The vaccines work well and remain the best way to end the pandemic, save lives, and keep our economy open. We know that is true because we have an absolute mountain of data proving it being gathered by hundreds, perhaps thousands, of different sources and authorities all around the globe. That is true regardless of whether or not you personally trust the government.

You don't trust the government so you go hunting around for any tidbit of information that might suggest a conspiracy at play or the manipulation of data in service of a pro-corporate, pro-big government agenda, dismissing the much larger body of information being publicly scrutinized by hundreds of disassociated scientists, doctors, and public health entities as all corrupt and all not to be trusted. Who is the one in thrall to a sinister narrative here?