Anecdotes don't stand up nearly as well as the hundreds of thousands of folks who've been assessed via stringent research papers and the millions who have been monitored after vaccine rollout late last year.
One or two examples of any perceived side effects can be pure chance. Seriously, it happens all the time because life is messy. That's why we need large samples and carefully crafted studies to eliminate bias as much as possible. I work at a university. It's likely that 90%+ of the ~150 people I interact with on a monthly basis now have gotten both jabs (or one of J&J, of course). Know how many had any noticeable, long-term side effects? None. And yes, I've asked nearly all of them. Molecular biologists who will know more about immune function and vaccines than I ever will were basically in line as soon as doses came to town.
Same with my family. Hell, my gun-toting, outlaw country-loving uncle got his shot the minute it was available. No side effects.
The fact of the matter remains that long-term impacts of the virus are KNOWN to be detrimental. We've got folks like Kirk Herbstreit who still have no sense of taste or smell. Brain fog and lethargy are additional detriments. Lung scarring and organ damage caused by the virus and low O2 levels will impact global healthcare for decades. Even asymptomatic cases have been shown to inflame the heart while mild cases have reduced gray matter in the brain (recent study). Clots are an issue, too.
We now live in a time when people who are on an ICU bed or are about to be intubated are still pushing anti-vax rhetoric. Maybe they're trying to become martyrs, maybe they're just stubborn. It's damn difficult for people to admit when they've made serious mistakes. I feel like more people would come out as pro-vaccine if a lot of folks on the left would just stop being a bunch of dicks and a lot of folks on the right would look at the consequences of their actions. Seriously, to any liberals and leftists who are guilty of saying "I told you so" as someone's loved one is LITERALLY drowning in their own fluids, that's about as horrific and detrimental to our cause than anything I can think of. It's a small percentage. Kinda like the vocal basketball fans that threaten and berate college players. But still. Think before you type. I digress.
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Masking was literally the least we could've asked for. Folks refused. Vaccination is a better alternative (both is even better), but still folks refused (and now the Delta variant is likely going to shut a lot of stuff down again this winter). Fox News folks are starting to come forward and promote the vaccine. I don't know if it's a lack of Trump or the realization that this shit's about to hit their base hard, but they're slowly beginning to talk positively about the vaccine. The Alabama governor... ALABAMA, has started talking about the vaccine's benefits. This isn't going away soon, and it certainly isn't going away before it takes out a LOT more people.
Israel has a ton vaxxed. Delta is breaking through. LA has a ton vaxxed. Breaking through. Vaccines are still effective, but the Delta variant has altered spike proteins which helps it bypass the OG vaccines. The summer was nice while the vaccines held, but until we get the updated booster shots, I think we're right back to where we were before last fall.
I know I might not change your mind. I really do. But, I'd like to take a moment to ask you as someone who cares about Kentuckians and BBN, that you carry an open mind.
Be well. ✌🏼
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