The Great Barrington Declaration

[Ibake]

I watched this today and then read the subsequent articles. I found it very powerful, not least because it talks very specifically about how we protect the old and clinically vulnerable. They call it Focused Protection and argue that it is what we should replace lockdowns with so that we don't destroy our children's education, our healthcare systems and the economy whilst trying to mitigate the global effect of Covid.

World renowned epidemiologists and immunologists have put their name to it (attached pic)

It's 30 mins long but worth watching.
unherd.com/2020/10/covid-experts-there-is-another-way/?fbclid=IwAR0UZJSBkqMZwNxhZsgrFxQikRPpEj6IvxsaCO6r12RK5BCYeRz6gk0QyPQ

gbdeclaration.org
If you agree with the content you can also sign the declaration.

reaction.life/we-are-throwing-the-working-class-under-the-bus-an-interview-with-professor-martin-kulldorff/

And FWIW they’ve been extremely clear about not thinking you are immune from effects of the virus because you are young or in a low risk group.

Around 90% of 18-24 year olds appear to be asymptomatic. And those that get symptoms get them very mildly, less strong than the flu!

The idea of selective protection of the elderly and vulnerable is unethical and simply not possible as there is no way to sustainably protect such a large group of people without imposing huge risks to their mental and physical health. Even if this were an option, and we were to shield the vulnerable from infection while letting the virus run through the rest of the population, we must remember that this virus is in no way benign for the young and fit. Yes, the elderly are significantly more likely to get seriously ill from the virus, but we have seen grave impacts across all age groups. We are also seeing an increase in cases of Long Covid, where people are suffering from persistent and enduring symptoms for months after COVID-19 infection, and we just don’t understand enough about this at the moment to even consider ‘Focused Protection’.

We cannot lock entire sectors of society away because others want to live their lives ‘as normal’. Neither should we expect younger or healthier people in the population to take a hit for herd immunity, especially when there is so much we are still to discover about the long term effects of COVID-19.

Professor Sir Robert Lechler, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences (he is also an immunologist).
acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/navigating-covid-19-through-the-volume-of-competing-voices

A small number of scientists argue that the best way to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic is to lock down older and sicker people while letting those who are young and healthy get infected. These scientists claim widespread infection will protect society as a whole by building herd immunity.

This “herd immunity” strategy is not part of a legitimate scientific debate. It has been rejected by key scientific leaders in the US, UK, Germany, and World Health Organization. Proponents of “herd immunity” haven’t tried to address even basic questions about the strategy, such as how many households would need to be locked down or how many people would still get sick from endemic COVID-19 once herd immunity was achieved.

The proposal is not evidence-based and does not reflect even a minority view in the scientific community.
Justin Feldman, ScD, Health & Human Rights Fellow at the Harvard FXB Center.
medium.com/@jmfeldman/the-herd-immunity-strategy-isnt-part-of-a-scientific-debate-about-covid-19-abddf6bc7c13

But, we don’t have a vaccine against Covid-19. Without it, herd immunity means many will die. The fact that most deaths have occurred in the over 70s doesn’t mean that younger people have nothing to fear from the virus. They may not die, but the long-term consequences of the infection may make their lives miserable.

In the meantime, studies have shown that some infected patients develop long-term illness. The virus causes inflammation of the blood vessels. The heart, lungs, kidneys and liver can be damaged. Symptoms can include persistent fever, chronic fatigue, breathing difficulties, irregular heart beats, intestinal problems, brain damage, hallucinations and memory loss.

It seems that most people with these chronic symptoms were previously healthy and many are significantly younger than 60.
Professor Harry Burns, Professor of global public health, University of Strathclyde, former Chief Medical Officer for Scotland.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/covid-herd-immunity-argument-based-two-false-assumptions-and-young-people-should-be-very-afraid-virus-professor-harry-burns-2995478

But we are locking away the elderly in care homes.

@MaxNormal

But we are locking away the elderly in care homes.

No, a very small percentage of over 70s live in care homes. Even at over 85 years its only 15% of people. Most people live in their own homes. Most people are not 'locked in' a care home. Most can choose to go out, if they so wish.

Older people as per those at increased risk includes many doctors, nurses, pharmacists, teachers, those in retail, those in law, those in other health and social care professions. Who is going to provide the services, if not the older people?

@MaxNormal

But we are locking away the elderly in care homes.

CQC have been very good at ensuring the rights of people in care homes and similar are not forgotten tbh.

No, a very small percentage of over 70s live in care homes. Even at over 85 years its only 15% of people. Most people live in their own homes.

Oh well as long as it's only a small percentage of them, that's fine then.

@MaxNormal

No, a very small percentage of over 70s live in care homes. Even at over 85 years its only 15% of people. Most people live in their own homes.

Oh well as long as it's only a small percentage of them, that's fine then.

No, a disregard is never acceptable and all lives are of equal value, in my book.

Its the idea that anyone over 70 is doddery and incontinent with advanced dementia, that is the issue and completely untrue. Its easier to dismiss the lives of a frail elderly person we can't see than our GP or the chap from the corner shop.