What I don't understand about anti-vaxxers is...

[CanadianJohn]

What I don't understand about anti-vaxxers is how malevolent some of them are. If I decided I didn't want a covid jab, I certainly wouldn't picket hospitals and health centres. Recently an elected legislator in Manitoba faced a demonstration of about 30 people at her home, and someone left a noose on her lawn. www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/alberta-politician-angry-after-covid-19-protesters-leave-gallows-noose-at-her-house-575661242.html

A recent news story on booster jabs provoked dozens of responses poking fun at "sheeple" and referencing Big Phama and similar themes.

Why are so many people so vitriolic about the vaccine?

[quote Trixiefirecracker]@frozendaisy my Facebook feed is full of them. It’s spreading a lot of misinformation so it can be dangerous. People seem to think FB is a reliable source of scientific information unfortunately.[/quote]
My Facebook feed has more people spreading doom and gloom about rising cases (when they’re falling) and the need to ‘lockdown now to save Christmas’ . Also annoying and potentially distressing for many people.

Trixiefirecracker

I suppose I mean are they friends of yours? Do you challenge them on their views?

People on both sides are being utterly awful with both thinking they’re superior and being nasty to each other. If we all just concentrated on ourselves and we’re bothered about what other people chose we would be far less segregated.

was flagged from the very beginning that boosters would be needed as efficacy waned over time

Maybe as a possibility.

But here’s what happened in the Pfizer trials. They offered jabs to the control arm early on so nobody had any idea how long it would be effective for.

So people who were double-jabbed had no idea how long they’d be protected for, public health certainly never gave a timeframe for it, or they’d have been prepared!

This is probably why loads of vaccinated people are getting severe COVID and are quite rightly irritated about the whole situation. No one told us we’d be on some vaccine treadmill, and now we’re even told that double-jabbed may not be enough to avoid quarantine in the future.

Absolute shambles.

@Trixiefirecracker

‘Many (60+) years ago, I had an antimalarial injection. I caught malaria and almost died’ I don’t understand why this is relevant to you not choosing to have a vaccine? There is no sense it this at all. Equally you could have caught malaria without having been vaccinated, would that have changed your mind about the covid vaccine? No vaccines are 100% effective, that’s just a given. I really dont get your point, it’s nonsensical.

The hase 2 trials of he only vaccine against malaria was approved earlier this year, after initial trials starting in 2013 (supported by the Gates Foundation).

Whatever the shot 60 years ago was, it was not a vaccine

There are injectable forms of prophylaxis, but just like the tablet version, they do not offer 100% protection but are pretty damned good at reducing severity of the disease

I think a lot of people have gone completely mad, whether pro or anti vaccine. I am constantly amazed at how vitriolic someone can be towards others who have made a different choice from them.

I am single vaccinated, was reluctant to get even the first due to worries about safety and then had a terrible reaction to it (Pfizer). I am not an anti vaxxer (have had all my other immunisations) and respect other people’s choices.

@FakingMemories

I find people on the “other side” of the argument are just as horrible. I’ve seen more than a few threads here and elsewhere where people feel it’s perfectly reasonable to suggest that if someone who refused the vaxx gets COVID they should be refused medical treatment and death being wished upon them. Interesting that the same is not wished upon smokers, drinkers, the obese, drug addicts, people who participate in extreme sports, etc.

Came here to say similar. Anyone on MN mentioning they are unvaccinated gets jumped on. There was someone claiming to be an ITU nurse on the AIBU board that said unvaccinated people "should do us a favour and die at home". Most of the horrible comments and vitriol has been from people very much in favour of vaccines.

@Songoftheseas

I think a lot of people have gone completely mad, whether pro or anti vaccine. I am constantly amazed at how vitriolic someone can be towards others who have made a different choice from them.

I am single vaccinated, was reluctant to get even the first due to worries about safety and then had a terrible reaction to it (Pfizer). I am not an anti vaxxer (have had all my other immunisations) and respect other people’s choices.

I agree, @Songoftheseas

We've all gone bonkers.

Fighting with people who've made different choices is NOT what is going to get us out of the mess we're in. At least when we didn't know how little the jabs actually do for spread there was some possible logic behind the (still horrible) vitriol. But now? It's like we're a load of rabid dogs being set on each other by the media. Twas always thus.

@UnmentionedElephantDildo I’m sorry but I think your post is to the wrong person. I never said I had a malaria vaccine, I was quoting someone who did.

@Mythroatisstillsore they are acquaintances, I would struggle to be friends with an anti-vaxxer who are sharing such nonsense.

Can I just say that I don’t t think we are talking about people who have just decided not to have a covid vaccine through health choices or because they want to wait snd see until they feel more comfortable with the research, they are not the same people in the OPs post. These people are militant and spreading all sorts of damaging rubbish.

American anti-vaxxers, including Ted Cruz have taken on Big Bird, who's been pro vaccines since 1972, when he queued up for a measles shot for a balloon.

Big Bird recently announced he's had his Covid-19 jab.

Rationality has gone out the window and politicians are trolling children's television characters.

And apparently NY are offering children $100 if they have the vaccine. Shocking.

Was hoping for a convincing link to persuade, but I haven't found one yet.

www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-york-elections-government/ny-nyc-covid-deblasio-announced-kids-eligible-for-bonus-with-vaccine-20211104-a2kwcx2mbndb5crcg7jegrorqm-story.html

Why are people being bribed to take the vaccine ?
Boris said “ get the vaccine and save Christmas “
Surely Christmas shouldn’t come into it !
It should be based on scientific evidence but it’s more about politics I’m afraid .

@Squeezyhug this isn’t in the U.K., it’s in New York.

If you wanted to make a point of showing how malevolent some of those choosing to be vaccinated can be - you've started the right thread OP.

Well said, @Lostinacloud. The idea that saying what you're saying would make you "anti-vax" is a demonstration of the crazy place we seem to be at. As well as the lack of effect on transmission in real-world data, the 6 month data from the big Pfizer trial actually showed no difference in all-cause mortality between the two arms of the trial. Fewer vaccinated people died of covid, but more died of other things. No statistical difference, overall. So whether or not to take this jab is a nuanced, tricky decision for individuals, not something which there's any logical reason mandate.

Well said @Lostinacloud some balance at last.

Being anti-vax isn't an issue. Being a shouty anti-vax activist, spreading misinformation and being violent about it.. that's an issue.

I generally think there is a difference between 'Anti-vaxxers' and people who dont want the Covid vaccine and they are unfairly lumped into the same catagory.

I am not anti-vaccine, but i havent had my covid vaccine. For context, i am 26 years old, have had Covid twice and been one of the very fortunate and very lucky people who did not fall ill at all either times. I haven't had the vaccine simply because i don't trust it - YET. And i know a lot of other poeple in the same boat as me. I would like to see some longer term studies before i decide if its something i feel i want inside my body.
I wont tell other people what they should or should not do, as i respect everyones decision as it is their body, and they should make a decision as they see fit.

The general stand point is that i am selfish to others for not having the vaccine, yet i feel its selfish of others to insult and pressure people to have something injected into them that they dont feel comfortable in having. The facts still remain that the vaccine does not make you immune to being a carrier so it confuses me as to why people who do have the vaccine feel it appropriate to lecture those without around this subject.

To be clear, i dont agree with anyone forcing their opinions on anyone. Whether thats people for or against the vaccine, we should be able to live in a world where we dont have to feel alienated or explain a decision to do or not do something that effects their body.

Great post @Bexxe, agree with everything you’ve said and don’t blame you for your decision so far. Some younger members of my family feel the same and I support them fully, although I feel very sad for the European girlfriend of my DB who is just a bit younger than you and felt the same way but is now having the vaccines just so she can finally visit her family. So very wrong She says she feels forced and is very upset about it, I can’t believe this sort of thing is happening and there’s still so much acceptance of it.

@Gingernaut

American anti-vaxxers, including Ted Cruz have taken on Big Bird, who's been pro vaccines since 1972, when he queued up for a measles shot for a balloon.

Big Bird recently announced he's had his Covid-19 jab.

Rationality has gone out the window and politicians are trolling children's television characters.

Is this true? I'm off to Google the big bird cruz fight? This is what the internet was made for! Same it's a none wine evening