[quote EllenRipley]@Globaliser
Wow. You are incredibly arrogant.
I too know many intelligent, professional people.Actually, I am one, though thankfully not on a lofty pedestal like you.
Some of these people are happy and glad to take the vaccine. Some of them really need the vaccine. And some of them aren't having the vaccine because they're not high risk, they have immune systems, or immunity from previous infection. Absolutely none of them are anti-vaxxers or subscribe to conspiracy theory nonsense. They're just normal folk - though they are as appalled as I am at the disturbing, sanctimonious, and not-quite-as-informed-and-selfless-as-you'd-like-to-think attitude of people like you.
Being vaccinated reduces but does not prevent transmission. As yet, we don't know how long vaccine antibodies last, or which mutations will escape them (because we are still in the Phase 4 real world data collection stage that also needs to consider 'adverse events' and things like auto-immune reactions). You're still a potential spreader, and potentially a much quieter one given you may end up with minimal or no symptoms because of your vaccination. Vulnerable and vaccinated people have as much protection from serious disease as is possible at this time, and should continue to take care of themselves.
Herd immunity is achievable and highly likely because a) vaccine uptake is high and b) 45% of covid infections are asymptomatic, which means a good part of the population is already protected - and as protected as a vaccinated person. (Btw, I know that because I am participating in a Covidence UK study, and the Professor that's heading it explained that in a webinar).
If it helps you to live your special life by dismissing others' choices (however these are informed) as a product of their selfishness and stupidity 🙄, then knock yourself out. I hope, though, that you apply this selfless sense of responsibility to the other areas of your life and lifestyle that inevitably impact your fellow global citizens' health and well-being (probably in ways you rarely consider).
I also hope this was well spelt and sufficiently punctuated for you. Please feel free to dismiss my opinion and my liberties if you see any typos.[/quote]
This is antivax drivel. Watch the sleight of hand: “...some of them aren’t having the vaccine because they’re not high risk, they have immune systems or immunity from previous infection”.
Let’s break that down, shall we?
“not having the vaccine because they’re not high risk” - the vaccine is being given to high risk groups first, but is going to be given to everyone over 18. There is no credible research which suggests that you only need the vaccine if you are high risk. The USA, the EU, and the UK are proposing to vaccinate their entire populations over the age of 18. But they are clearly wrong, and all the doctors working so hard in the hospitals, who have gratefully taken the vaccine, are wrong, because you have read something on Facebook that says so. Hmm.
Next.
“they have immune systems” - unless you are one of the very unfortunate people receiving treatment that has compromised your immune system, we all have an immune system. Without one you would be dead. All those hospital consultants working in the the NHS have immune systems. They still take the vaccine. But your friends know better than them.
“they have immunity from previous infections” - no scientist or doctor that I am aware of is suggesting that people who have previously contracted COVID should not take the vaccine. No country that I am aware of is suggesting this. It is not certain that everyone who has contracted COVID receives immunity, and it is not known how long the immunity that is produced will last.
These are stupid arguments advanced by stupid people. They require a belief in the existence of a massive international conspiracy to fool people into taking a vaccine, or a belief that you know better than Professor Sir John Bell, Regius Chair of Medicine at Oxford University, and Sir Mene Panglalos, at Astra Zeneca, who have spent a year working every hour they have to develop a vaccine to save lives, on a non-profit basis, and every other leading researcher in the UK, EU and USA. I’d say that’s pretty arrogant. Or really dumb.