1091 CoViD Anti- and Non-Vaccing

I had some not so subtle feedback after my previous blog ...

1088 Taking the 'Red Pill' on CoViD vaccines

To be taking the 'Red Pill' on CoViD vaccine

alternatives means to face reality and facts

... which took me by surprise. I don't get terribly much feedback, hence I cherish any feedback, as one should. But I know that not many people bother to read my blog and not many people respond ... nevertheless, I do assume that people who respond actually have read the blog.

In this case I wonder if that happened ... at least it seems my critic did not bother to fact-check my blog, which appears evident from the nature of the critique:

Carsten, I have no interest in your dogma or information bias ... I don’t consider quoting other people's selected statistics as you do in your blogs makes you an expert or proves you do your own thinking ...

I do find this perplexing: That communication did not address any aspect of the issue at hand, no factual information was offered ... just vitriol was directed at me. The point is that I pride myself in meticulously researching the subjects I blog about ... and that includes using other peoples' statistics; that they are selected comes with the territory. Nevertheless, what one selects is the issue, of course.

My blog was based on a  Quillette  article criticising Bret Weinstein's conspiracy mongering re. the efficacy of IVM. I think it is a very good article, written by two persons - one a journalist, the other a scientist - who seem to know what they're talking about ... In the case of my previous blog I included a link to a scientific paper, which I read word for word, and then published the conclusion (in case you missed it, the Bold Blue text items are links to resources):

Conclusion (Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19):

 

In comparison to SOC or placebo, IVM did not reduce all-cause mortality, length of stay or viral clearance in RCTs in COVID-19 patients with mostly mild disease. IVM did not have an effect on AEs or severe AEs. IVM is not a viable option to treat COVID-19 patients.

There it is: "IVM (Ivermectin) is not a viable option to treat COVID-19 patients".

Remember: My blog was about confronting the conspiracy theory - espoused by Bret Weinstein and his cohort  -  that vaccinating is not really all that necessary ... if we only used the alternative, well proven medicines out there ... like IVM.

The above needs to be seen in this context: 

The Fact Check-VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) page (Reuters) states that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, “under the most intense safety monitoring in United States history”, and recommends receiving the vaccine as soon as possible.

When dealing with conspiracy theorists one generally does not get many factual information, rather opinions that often are not terribly rational:

Re: Covid 19 vaccinations:  

I am still working through this for myself and taking all necessary precautions. Thus far in this country, thank god, I do have the right to make this choice. To be allowed to investigate and to err on the side of caution involving a very new vaccination technology.  I have a right to this choice without feeling any fear, or experiencing any violence or discrimination. This is my human right. May our children and grandchildren also be allowed this right. God forbid if not ...

... well, yes, it probably is everyone's human right  to this choice without feeling any fear, or experiencing any violence or discrimination  ... (however, this comment seems to me to be alluding to the popular "Freedom" Conspiracy Theory, that this right could be taken away at any time) ... but I would like to add: We all have Human Rights; however, we also have a duty to factual discourse. And beyond the Human Rights we all claim, all of us also have a duty to strive for the Greater Human Good. 

The Freedom Conspiracy Theory really gets my goat. The catch-cry is ...

(The My Body/My Choice slogan works well in regard to abortion, not so well in this context.) 

... and from there the logic is: I decide what goes into my body. And if I decide I don't like the looks of a vaccine, then that's the end of the story. People want to "do their own research". Notwithstanding that the existing research has established the efficacy and safety of the vaccines:

The Fact Check-VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) page (Reuters) states that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, “under the most intense safety monitoring in United States history” ... and recommends receiving the vaccine as soon as possible.

Then the Greater Good has to succumb to the anti- or non-vaccers right to Freedom Of Choice. Funny this; did you ever hear someone with cancer say, "Chemotherapy? Wait a minute! I'll just go and do my own research on that ... it's my Body and My Choice." 

This is a circumstance we want to familiarise ourselves with: When it comes to health, our body actually is not really ours ... it pretty much belongs to the public health system. And decisions are made for us day in day out. Most of the time that is ok ... it's just with vaccinations that people suspend logic.

(Besides, Freedom Schmeedom ... our so-called freedom is curbed a dozen times a day, to begin with at every traffic light; I can just see Nelson Mandela turning in his grave. If people were granted their so-called freedoms and they were doing exactly whatever they wanted, society would break down ... just re-watch the video of the Capitol "Freedom Fighters" on Jan. 6)

Anyway, back to the issue at hand; the fact is: It may be ok not to get vaccinated if  your doctor points out medical reasons ... but while eligible Australians do not vaccinate in sufficient numbers, our economy goes to ruin 

(from my blog 1082):

1082 Vaccination? Yes? No? Maybe?

Should we get vaccinated against Covid? 

The bottom line is, if we want to open our borders, if we want to re-start our economy, we bloody well all need to get vaccinated ... at least 60, 70% of the population needs to be vaccinated for the borders to re-open ... to date approx 6% of the Australian population has been vaccinated, June '21 (Reuters). Who is Reuters?