The NYT did a longer piece on Centner Academy - the school that forbid teachers from getting vaccinated because it might somehow affect others they come in contact with. One thing I’ll say for it, the article is an eye-opening look into a different segment of society for me. I’m glad my parents were never part of that segment.
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As long as we fail to achieve herd immunity, we take the chance that a new variant will appear that is much more deadly and resistant to current vaccines. While I’m not cowering in fear, I disagree that those of us who are vaccinated have “little to worry about.” Failure to reach herd immunity affects all of us, not just the unvaccinated.
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Possible problems from both Covid and the vaccines? Given this thread has a number of people trying to keep up with the current research, here’s something new.
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Maine now leads the country in the percentage of fully vaccinated people. 
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Yes, but if you are afraid of vaccines with non-replicating spike proteins for this reason, you need to be much more afraid of actual replicating viruses with those spike proteins.
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I didn’t post it as an argument for or against taking the vaccine but because it’s interesting new information from a reputable source. I understand that you get the spike protein with covid and the vaccine both.
TBH, I am not afraid of the vaccine for myself, but have family members with hereditary contradictions that still may end up not being allowed into their workplaces or classrooms because some businesses and universities are requiring vaccine compliance regardless of health issues. What I’m trying to do is figure out which vaccine will be the safest for these people.
Which do not have medical exemptions? Every university policy that I have seen for a vaccine requirement listed medical exemptions.
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Specifically because one of the contradictions is so rare(ITP) that the dataset is very small and physicians don’t have enough information at this time to actually warrant an exemption. At this point it’s hard to know the risk of the vaccine to these people. Some people are coming out of remission after the vaccine and some are not. Usually the disease can be put back into remission but after it rears it’s ugly head the first time, it’s often a lifelong struggle to keep it there. ITP is an inherited disease resulting in low platelet counts. My MIL almost bled to death (in the hospitial) after taking a common antibiotic, so it isn’t always clear what messes with it and what doesn’t. There are some studies going on, but again, it’s so rare that there isn’t a lot of research money going that direction.
Also, if you haven’t had severe symptoms, it doesn’t get diagnosed though there are signs that you’ve got the gene for it. It tends to genetically travel with some other autoimmune diseases that the rest of my family experiences, so I have a real reason for concern here.
That’s funny. I got a pop up that CT lead the country!
Seems that it can be triggered by various vaccines (including MMR and influenza) – but can also be triggered (and often worse) by natural infections of those diseases.
Meaning, persons with ITP would be among those whom herd immunity would protect if it were risky for them to get vaccinated and (probably) even more risky for them to get the actual disease.
Unfortunately, vaccine reluctance for non-medical reasons is likely to prevent herd immunity to COVID-19.
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Yep. But at this point Covid didn’t trigger anything and the symptoms were almost unnoticeable for those of concern. Obviously, I’m hoping there isn’t a second go-around or if so, it’s as easy going as the first one. The actual disease is fought by a wider spectrum of your immune system than just the S, so we’ve got that going for us. We’re taking vitamin D, C and zinc regularly as there is research out there to show that they help and I figure it can’t hurt!
BTW, I did appreciate the articles on ADE that you posted.
Both states round off to 40%.
In that case, you should be rabidly pro-vaccine, since herd immunity and the elimination of the vaccine from the population is the only thing that will protect your family members.
Based on what we know of the virus, unless the USA reaches herd immunity via vaccination, at least half of the population will eventually be infected, even those who try to take precautions. Based on the mutations that we have, the USA may not be able to achieved herd immunity through acquired immunity.
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My MIL lives in an assisted living facility in a state with about a quarter of eligible citizens vaccinated. Residents and staff were vaccinated in February. Recently, they relaxed restrictions, allowing visitors & letting residents leave the facility at will. Yesterday, four residents and one staff member were diagnosed with Covid; at least one of the residents is hospitalized. Without herd immunity, the virus will continue to impact our lives.
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Goodness, there’s nothing wrong with being proud of a small state like Maine rallying forces and doing so well.
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Herd immunity is looking unlikely, and I agree we’ll have to be vigilant about variants. But Covid becoming more and more severe isn’t the likeliest outcome, in my understanding. It will become endemic and, from a societal point of view, manageable. And vaccine progress isn’t going to stand still – there will be boosters as needed and new formulations to address variants. Those who decline to get vaccinated will remain at vastly more risk than those who do.
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Personally, I think it is much more than just a competition. There is a big difference between the top two states (CT & ME) at 40+% fully vaccinated, and the bottom two GA & TN @ 25%. To me it’s an indicator of state competence/interest in addressing the topic and armed with “the science” (i.e. data), residents of those states can hold their officials accountable (if they choose).
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I think that we may see two types of herd immunity. States in regions like the NE will reach herd immunity via vaccinations, but states with low levels of vaccinations and no restrictions will reach herd immunity the old fashioned way - when 70% of the people who are susceptible to infection will have been infected.
Or, the places with low vaccination rates and no restrictions will keep a constant mid level of virus, be a breeding grounds for mutations, and keep the rest of the country from achieving herd immunity by helping COVID mutate into variants that can get around the vaccinations.
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I thought it was New Hampshire.