Covid in Florida

[CF DolFan]

I'm pretty quiet on COVID.  Things are bad here.  People are dying on my Facebook feed...people's parents who refused the vaccine.  I feed sad for them, but I just don't know what else you can do.

I got the mask mandate that I wanted for my own kids' school, so I'm comfortable there.
I just heard today that a J&J booster is going to give a much, much higher immunity, which is unexpected, so that's good, because that's what I got.

The vaccine numbers are slowly upticking.  More and more companies are realizing that a mandate is the only thing that makes sense for their business model.

I have a greater overall care for humanity and knocking this out before it mutates to something that can kill everyone, but for now, I have the tools I need, more or less, to protect my family, so I'll take it.

Stay safe out there.

In all seriousness what is going on really sucks. Every week we are learning of people who have passed and some are vaccinated.

Just recently I've know two couples go through Covid. One of them was vaccinated and her husband was not. They suffered pretty much the same throughout their ordeal. The other couple she was vaccinated and he was not. He never showed any symptoms while she got pretty sick but didn't require the hospital. Outside of the crazy arse side effects this sickness really is all over the place. Not being overweight and being healthy seem to be the best defense to me.

[Dave Gray]

^
The best defense, by medical proof, is getting vaccinated to keep you from dying or getting hospitalized.  Those other factors are also helpful as well.

As a community, we need to do better about stopping the spread.  This means vaccines, masking when in the general populace, and being more aware and socially distanced and hygienic, in general. Sick people, even if they're not dead, is bad for other people, the economy, and leads to more virus mutations.

[Fau Teixeira]

I'm fairly exhausted with the anti-vaxxers, it's just monumental stupidity at this point.  But I agree, people shouldn't be forced to be vaccinated.  Anti-maskers that disrupt school board meetings are the absolute dregs of humanity however. It's absurd to the extreme. It's like protesting because a store made you wear shoes to go inside. There are already dress codes in schools. You don't see people threatening Drs and nurses and school board members cause their kids have to wear a polo to school.

I agree with vaccination mandates for private enterprises and for things like schools or for any sort of elective hospital procedure. It's bad enough that these idiots put out stupidity like "I don't need a shot, jesus will protect me from covid" and then inundate emergency rooms and take up all the ICU beds. The only thing I can think to rationalize that behavior is that Jesus is shit at protecting people, or they think Jesus went to medical school and is working at their hospital.

The cynical asshole part of me isn't upset about these right wing anti-vaccine radio hosts dying left and right from covid. The human part of me is pretty ashamed of feeling like that and thinks it's an awful tragedy that so many people are so delusional and so wrapped up in a ideology that is so self-harming.

[pondwater]

^
The best defense, by medical proof, is getting vaccinated to keep you from dying or getting hospitalized.  Those other factors are also helpful as well.

As a community, we need to do better about stopping the spread.  This means vaccines, masking when in the general populace, and being more aware and socially distanced and hygienic, in general. Sick people, even if they're not dead, is bad for other people, the economy, and leads to more virus mutations.

I disagree, the single best defense is to stay away from other people. I'd rather isolate myself and be unvaccinated than be like my brother and his wife that are vaccinated and go galavanting around town and out to eat 5 times a week. I'm seeing more and more high profile vaccinated people in the news/social media who have caught and/or died from the virus. Politicians, law enforcement, actors, musicians, etc. For every high profile vaccinated person who catches and/or dies from covid there has to be hundreds, if not thousands of non high profile "regular people" in the same situation.

I don't think they know what the fuck they're talking about. Shit changes on a weekly basis.

If you have been vaccinated you don't need a mask ------> If you been vaccinated you need to wear a mask ------> Vaccinated people can still catch, transmit, and die ------> Vaccinated people may need a booster.

The ironic part is that I said that I would get the vaccine when it was fully approved. However, the amount of harassment is off the charts. The more people harass me to get the vaccine, the longer I'll wait to get it. Next time my brother attempts to harass me, I'll politely let him know that I may get the vaccine. But you will never know either way because it's none of your business.

[Fau Teixeira]

You just had covid tho, I don't know what the ideal waiting period is for people who've recovered to get a vaccine. So you may have to wait a little bit.

[Dave Gray]

I disagree, the single best defense is to stay away from other people. I'd rather isolate myself and be unvaccinated than be like my brother and his wife that are vaccinated and go galavanting around town and out to eat 5 times a week.

This is a false dichotomy.  Getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated.  Isolation is safer than going out to eat every day.  Both are true.  Sure, stay home if that's acceptable for you, but get vaccinated also to greatly, greatly improve your chances.

I'm seeing more and more high profile vaccinated people in the news/social media who have caught and/or died from the virus. Politicians, law enforcement, actors, musicians, etc. For every high profile vaccinated person who catches and/or dies from covid there has to be hundreds, if not thousands of non high profile "regular people" in the same situation.

Caught COVID, yes.  You can be vaccinated and catch COVID and lots and lots of people will, but it's incredibly rare to get vaccinated and still die from COVID.  I pay attention to this very regularly and I don't know of high profile cases of this occurring.  There are some, but they are miniscule.

I don't think they know what the fuck they're talking about. Shit changes on a weekly basis.

If you have been vaccinated you don't need a mask ------> If you been vaccinated you need to wear a mask ------> Vaccinated people can still catch, transmit, and die ------> Vaccinated people may need a booster.

This is science, man.  Don't be daft.  The virus if FUCKING MUTATING, so the advice they give about one strain is different than another.  Also, there is a public pressure aspect.  The CDC gambled that the promise of no masks would cause people to get vaccinated.  And they didn't.  They just didn't wear and mask AND didn't get vaccinated, and now the Delta Variant is way more transmissible.  You're still unlikely to get sick if vaccinated, but your possibility of contracting and spreading the disease is still quite high, so masking helps.

Science will continue to learn and adapt its recommendation.  That's not a bug in science.  That's a feature.

The ironic part is that I said that I would get the vaccine when it was fully approved. However, the amount of harassment is off the charts. The more people harass me to get the vaccine, the longer I'll wait to get it. Next time my brother attempts to harass me, I'll politely let him know that I may get the vaccine. But you will never know either way because it's none of your business.

It was obvious that people claiming they were waiting for FDA approval were full of shit and that it was a moving goalpost.

In the other post, we talked about consequences to your actions -- this is the consequence.  You can be someone who is uncompromising and shuts people out and refuses to be a man of your word and won't do what's need to protect your extended family.  But your brother might think you're an asshole and harrass you about it to the point that it strains your relationship.  If you're cool with that, do you.  But that's the cost.

[CF DolFan]

^
The best defense, by medical proof, is getting vaccinated to keep you from dying or getting hospitalized.  Those other factors are also helpful as well.

As a community, we need to do better about stopping the spread.  This means vaccines, masking when in the general populace, and being more aware and socially distanced and hygienic, in general. Sick people, even if they're not dead, is bad for other people, the economy, and leads to more virus mutations.

Dave .. the vaccine isn't for everyone. Although the media conveniently leaves out this part it is documented. There are recorded thousands of deaths let alone thousands of cases of severe side effects.  6,123 cases of tinnitus, 22,286 cases of severe allergic reactions, 1,932 cases of low platelet counts, 12,808 people who have been put on permanent disability, 3,201 cases of myocarditis and pericarditis, 4,799 heart attacks, 1,272 miscarriages, 3,714 cases of Bell's Palsy, 4110 Anaphylaxis, 65,067 cases of people who had to go to Urgent Care, 4991 hospitalizations, and 11,940 deaths.

These stats come directly from VAERS.   (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System)

 From the FDA website .... https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccine-adverse-events/vaccine-adverse-event-reporting-system-vaers-questions-and-answers

What is VAERS?

VAERS is a national vaccine safety surveillance program created as an outgrowth of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (NCVIA) and is administered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). VAERS collects and analyzes data from reports of adverse events following vaccination.

Who can report to VAERS?

Anyone can report to VAERS. VAERS reports are usually submitted by health care providers, vaccine manufacturers, vaccine recipients (or their parents/guardians) and state immunization programs. Patients, parents, and guardians are encouraged to seek the help of a health-care professional in reporting to VAERS

[Spider-Dan]

Oh god, not this VAERS BS.

VAERS is entirely self-reported with absolutely no tracking or verification.  I could go on VAERS tomorrow and say that the COVID vaccine caused my leg to fall off.  It is a system that is utterly unprepared to deal with an influx of politically motivated liars.

VAERS is the darling of anti-vaxxers because the actual scientific tracking completely demolishes all of their arguments.  It is the vaccine equivalent of walking outside during a Michigan winter, picking up a snowball, and saying, "I have strong scientific evidence that the earth is not warming."

[Spider-Dan]

The ironic part is that I said that I would get the vaccine when it was fully approved. However, the amount of harassment is off the charts. The more people harass me to get the vaccine, the longer I'll wait to get it.

[Dave Gray]

11,940 of 5.04 BILLION doses.

It's a simple risk assessment.

You're hundreds (probably thousands -- haven't done the math) more likely to die of getting COVID when you're unvaccinated than you are of dying from the vaccine.



Yes, if your doctor says you have a special case where the vaccine is risky, by all means, don't get the vaccine.  But for a regular person -- for you -- get the fuckin' vaccine, man.  Do it for yourself, do it for your family, do it for everyone.

[pondwater]

This is a false dichotomy.  Getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated.  Isolation is safer than going out to eat every day.  Both are true.  Sure, stay home if that's acceptable for you, but get vaccinated also to greatly, greatly improve your chances.

CF claimed that being in shape and not overweight was the best defense. You claimed the best defense, by medical proof, is getting vaccinated. I disagree, isolation is better than both of those. It's virtually impossible to catch Covid if you're not around anyone infected with Covid.

Caught COVID, yes.  You can be vaccinated and catch COVID and lots and lots of people will, but it's incredibly rare to get vaccinated and still die from COVID.  I pay attention to this very regularly and I don't know of high profile cases of this occurring.  There are some, but they are miniscule.

This is science, man.  Don't be daft.  The virus if FUCKING MUTATING, so the advice they give about one strain is different than another.  Also, there is a public pressure aspect.  The CDC gambled that the promise of no masks would cause people to get vaccinated.  And they didn't.  They just didn't wear and mask AND didn't get vaccinated, and now the Delta Variant is way more transmissible.  You're still unlikely to get sick if vaccinated, but your possibility of contracting and spreading the disease is still quite high, so masking helps.

Science will continue to learn and adapt its recommendation.  That's not a bug in science.  That's a feature

This isn't going away. It's the new flu. Science and vaccines will always be lagging behind the actual mutations. They know less than you think they know, that much is obvious. I find it interesting though, black people seem very sceptical of the vaccine. As a group, democrats are pushing this vaccine harder than anyone else. The majority of blacks vote democrat. However, the overwhelming majority of the black people that I've talked to (that's a lot) haven't been vaccinated and given the impression that they wouldn't be getting vaccinated. So let's not put this strictly on conservatives.

It was obvious that people claiming they were waiting for FDA approval were full of shit and that it was a moving goalpost.

In the other post, we talked about consequences to your actions -- this is the consequence.  You can be someone who is uncompromising and shuts people out and refuses to be a man of your word and won't do what's need to protect your extended family.  But your brother might think you're an asshole and harrass you about it to the point that it strains your relationship.  If you're cool with that, do you.  But that's the cost.

It has nothing to do with being a man of your word. It has to do with harassing people.

In the past 7 days my brother has texted me 5 times about this fucking vaccine. It amounts to bullying. I don't need a countdown to approval reminder every other day. It's in the fucking news everyday. Like I'm supposed to hurry up and run out and get it the day it's approved. No, it's ain't that big a deal to me. I'll get it when I get around to getting it. Maybe Friday, maybe Monday, or maybe the first of the month.

I keep see all you guys saying, "I don't think we should force people to get vaccinated". Then STFU about it and mind your business. Your harassment, bullying, and ridicule is having the opposite effect.

[pondwater]

Leave it to Spider to change the topic and throw out the race card. BTW, FYI real Nazis don't exist anymore. They were virtually eliminated after WWII.

[pondwater]

get the fuckin' vaccine, man.  Do it for yourself, do it for your family, do it for everyone.

Talking like that isn't going to help raise the vaccination numbers. It's bewildering to me why you don't understand that it's having the opposite effect.

[Spider-Dan]

There have been just under 39 million COVID cases in the US, resulting in 648,000 deaths.
There have over 364 million COVID vaccine doses given to Americans, with more than 171 million fully vaccinated.  Even if we use CF's numbers of 11,940 deaths, that means that catching COVID is over 238 times more deadly than being fully vaccinated.

[Spider-Dan]

Leave it to Spider to change the topic and throw out the race card. BTW, FYI real Nazis don't exist anymore. They were virtually eliminated after WWII.

Talking like that isn't going to help raise the vaccination numbers. It's bewildering to me why you don't understand that it's having the opposite effect.

It is 100% on topic.  The cartoon is about conservatives' total aversion to accepting responsibility for their own decisions, which you display in this thread.  "I was going to do the right thing, but then You Were Mean To Me, so I decided not to.  Look what you made me do!"