While the situation in HK now is very worrisome if they had simply taken Sweden's approach back in 2020 when there weren't vaccines it's no telling how much worse things could've been. To note Sweden's population is a bit more than 10 million while HK is about 7 million. During the total pandemic Sweden has had about 24K die from COVID while HK has had about 4K. Adjusting for population HK still has only about a third of the COVID deaths of Sweden even though it is technically part of the same country where COVID started and is much denser population.
All these "died with Covid" (not: from Covid) stats are misleading. When you look at excess mortality, Sweden is doing well. And it will only look better in comparison from here on out. And to the other poster, about the "hospital situation" - that didn't even become a problem in places like South Africa.
A big problem with COVID is in fact the hospital system and this is a critical point a lot of people miss. The health care in Sweden in terms of availability of beds per capita is completely different than places such as Hong Kong and definitely the US. You can't really compare countries without taking a lot of the context into consideration and people are definitely jumping to conclusions and spinning data. Are lockdowns effective? When used correctly they are. Are masks effective? In the right situations. Does the vaccine work? Obviously it does. I think a lot of mistakes were made when knowledge was imperfect and by officials who erred on the side of caution. It probably didn't make sense to make 2 year olds where masks in airplanes or have kids where masks in public schools ONCE the vaccine was available. The situation in Hong Kong is entirely due to the low vaccination rate amongst the elderly. How can you have a zero infection policy and a low vaccination rate? What this shows is how ridiculous of a fantasy that was. But with a vaccination available, and push by people for a return to normalcy, I think it put public officials in a bind. It comes down to the question how much should officials work to reduce deaths vs allowing people to make bad decisions that result in deaths. I don't know what is the right answer. Part of me feels the vaccine is available so if someone buys into the anti-vax propaganda well that's too bad. On the other hand just because someone has been misinformed doesn't mean they deserve to die and gov't should play a role in doing what's best for public health.
Prior to Covid, 52% of Americans got yearly flu shots. After Covid, that number is increasing. So yeah... I expect at least half of Americans will think it's a good idea to keep their vaccinations up to the recommended dosage per year, or bi-year, or whatever it might be AS RECOMMENDED BY DOCTORS, AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. I guess the bigger question is how many "Non-sheep" will be getting their: -Personal medical advice -Foreign policy advice -social advice -financial advice -etc. etc. From Tucker Carlson, and Donald Trump??
Well... since you obviously can't read the first line of a post, let me restate again that as of 19-20 pre-covid 52% of Americans were getting the flu shot annually. So if 52% of Americans are okay getting an annual flu shot, It would make sense that if medical science and doctors agree it's necessary that those same Americans should be expected to get an annual Covid shot to prepare for surge seasons assuming that emerges as a typical thing around the fall as Covid becomes endemic. Where you able to read that or do I need to repeat it for you a third time?
The flu shot and covid shot are different. Vaccine hesitancy involves maturity of drug and known long term effects.
I was just about to say that this is what you are going to say. So predictable. The Flu shot reference was obvious that I wasn't talking about getting a 4th shot right this second today, and measuring % of shots administered by like next week or something stupid like that like you are trying to imply. When I use words or phrases like endemic, flu shot, and doctor advice I'm implying long term. No I don't expect 52% of Americans to get a 4th shot "any time soon" but "over time" I do expect that as we continue through this process it'll be clear when there are covid seasons and that over half of Americans will be totally comfortable getting a regular booster. And yes, the flu shot and the Covid shot is very different... .YOU KNOW WHY???... because people like you that consume the garbage I'm sure you consume in terms of media saw Covid as an opportunity to divide people politically on something that shouldn't be political but it was made political in order to divide Americans, and in other parts of the world where it was advantageous to create a culture war. But in reality there is no reason why the Flu Shot and the Covid shot should be viewed any different. Both are a vaccine. Both go through the same regulatory food and drugs safety requirements. The Flu Shot is a different formula every damn year too. It's like saying trying to make a case that The White Album and Please Please Please are very different from each other.... well no sh$t Sherlock, but they are both pieces of music by the Beatles. We aren't talking about Abbey Road vs Toy Story. The Flu Shot and the Covid shot are both vaccines for a endemic virus that mutates. Both are regulated, and have trials regularly to ensure they are safe and effective. It's VERY LIKELY that OVER TIME at least 52% of people will get a regular Covid booster shot. That's not at all that crazy of a statement to make.
The COVID vaccines have been out now more than a year. Probably hundreds of millions have taken them. If they were so dangerous it would be impossible to hide. I don't see any reason why getting another booster would be any more dangerous than getting the previous boosters.
The long term side effects of getting covid is far far more severe than the long term side effects from the vaccine (which is very close to 0)
Just a minor update I would count doses, not just how many people (though that's probably in the Billion also). 10.9 billion doses have been administered, including 557 million doses in the US. As a comparison, there has been a total of 194 million doses of flu vaccine administered since 1980.
I have my booster. I am not arguing vaccine testing I am arguing even among a sample of those willing to take the shot ( fully vaccinated) less than half did a booster. To me this is the much more relevant stat as it is the same drug and same disease for the projected percent.
The vaccines have obviously worked incredibly well so calling people who get the vaccine “sheep” is inarguably stupid. I’d love for everyone to be vaccinated. But there’s nothing wrong with questioning the necessity of a 4th shot this early. Even a third for many. If you’ve had the first 2 shots and then recently had omicron why on earth would you need another booster anytime soon? Let alone a 4th. Nuance is important in messaging and it’s not always been there.
Are non vulnerable people who have 2 vaccine shots and subsequently getting omicron clogging up the hospitals?
I caught omi a month ago and will likely not take a booster. If I didn't I would strongly consider the new blend that has both omi and delta strains in the coming months if Europe's rates continue to rise. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...-already-begun-data-suggests/?sh=4e4bbf055d32
