Think back to when the CDC was recommending NO mask usage, just handwashing, while at the same time, those of us who were following the news in China could see that there was very clear evidence of airborne transmission. Look at the CDC’s recent absurd recommendation that only the unvaccinated needed to mask in public spaces - when we already had a huge proportion of the population who were refusing both masking AND immunization! And how in the world were people to know who was immunized? Not to mention the fact that at best, against the initial strain, the vaccine was only 95% effective - which is great, but that still means that if you’re in a venue with 400 people (such as a supermarket), at best at least 20 of them would be non-immune, even if they had all been immunized, and if unmasked, possibly spreading aerosolized Covid, which then 5% of those there might contract, even if they themselves were immunized and masked, since masking is better at preventing dispersion than at preventing inhalation.
As for the FDA, it’s even worse. Their recent approval against their own medical committee’s virtually unanimous recommendation to NOT approve a dangerous, unproven medication that is purported to treat Alzheimer’s, shows exactly what is going on at the FDA these days. Someone in a very high position either did gain, or has been promised future gain, in exchange for that approval.
I’m no conspiracy theorist. But at this point, I pretty much take any CDC recommendation with a grain of salt. The FDA? The completely unwarranted approval of Aduhelm indicates that there’s corruption going on, probably in the form of a promise of a future highly lucrative job at Biogen to the person who overrode the committee’s recommendation to reject, and gave the approval.
For these reasons, I say, “Look to Israel”. They’re two months ahead of us on immunization with Pfizer. They were reporting only 39% efficacy against contraction of Delta variant, and no one here believed it until Provincetown (and many STILL don’t believe it). They’re ahead of us on a rapid, massive 3rd dose campaign - we should be seeing data from that in about a month. Look at the data coming out of Israel. Based upon it, my decision is made. I’m recommending that the immunocompromised (and an autoimmune disease does NOT mean you’re immunocompromised, unless you are on an immunosuppressant) get an antibody titer, since it is a reflection of whether the person 's B-cells have responded to the vaccine. If the titer is low, they should get a 3rd dose - Pfizer, Moderna, whatever. I also recommend that all who had the one JnJ get another dose now - Pfizer, Moderna, JnJ, anything they can get. And those who are six months out from their last dose? Probably best to get another dose, either Pfizer or Moderna, whatever they can get. And return to masking in public indoor spaces.
Yes, there is a risk of triggering a harmful immune reaction, but that risk is less than the risk of contracting Delta variant and it triggering a harmful immune reaction, or severe illness, or even death. Unless of course one returns to complete and total isolation measures, the way some of us were before the vaccine became available. Then one is safe without having any vaccine… until you need to go to the ER for something else, and contract Covid there.