Is anyone else worried? (Covid Vaccine)

[Johnny D]

I will concede to your strong agruments. Well stated. Personal responsibility is i guess an outdated idea we should all just focus on conspiracies and finger pointing. That is surely the best way out of this mess. Who needs science and data and character anyway right guys.

As suspected... You actually have no science to substantiate your assertions. No data, just feelings.

[Johnny D]

Ah, got it, the theory that you're peddling is that any hospital admission during the time of COVID = a Covid patient. Don't worry, that's not true but I know you won't take my word for it so we can end the discussion.

That's absolutely true. Hospitals are testing everyone for Covid, symptomatic or not. And despite the known fact that PCR is a meaningless and error prone way to test, if the patient is positive, they're listed as a Covid patient. Symptomatic or not. And, yes, hospitals do get more money for Covid cases.

[solidlength]

Well that's the scoop I get from very old and good friend of mine who is a senior administrator at a very big hospital in these parts. It's okay it was fun.

While I don't know where you're located, I can tell you that in my state the CDC reports hospital by hospital how many beds are occupied with Covid patients and I can tell you that number is currently (thankfully) far less than patients hospitalized at said hospital. Currently the number is like 23/150 beds. So I don't see what you speak of in 'my parts.'

Secondly, if what your friend is proposing is true that would be a hook line and sinker for a reportable billing fraud case. If I had appendicitis over the summer (when the hospital I'm referring to had 0 Covid admissions) and got my appendix out which requires admission and then I received a bill that stated I received some sort of Covid related care, you better believe I'm calling my insurance company and screaming foul play. Don't you think if this were happening that someone in the chain of hospital billing -> insurance adjustment -> patient would be crying foul about being treated for Covid when never receiving actual treatment?

[solidlength]

That's absolutely true. Hospitals are testing everyone for Covid, symptomatic or not. And despite the known fact that PCR is a meaningless and error prone way to test, if the patient is positive, they're listed as a Covid patient. Symptomatic or not. And, yes, hospitals do get more money for Covid cases.

Uh, yes, hospitals are testing everyone for Covid. Those who have a positive test are put in quarantine and given special quarantine medical procedures. Those who don't test positive go into Gen Med or wherever they are bound for the hospital. Not 100% of hospital admissions test positive for Covid.

[Johnny D]

Also, remove politics from the situation. Why would you not get the vaccine?

Long term safety? I get it, cool, don't get the vaccine then. No big deal.

Another hypothetical, would you only get a vaccine for a deadly disease? If a vaccine were developed for the common cold, would you get it? I sure would.

My rationale has nothing to do with politics - I don't play for either team - and everything to do with understanding the risks relative to the reward. So if there's a vaccine for the common cold, I would wait a very long time before considering it. I get vaccinated for the flu because it's stood the test of time - the risk is very low and the payoff is that I don't have down time where I feel like shit for a week or two. But Covid vaccines haven't been tested over a long period of time so we don't know all the risks yet. Perhaps being exposed to Covid has long-term consequences. We don't know that yet, either. But my chances of being infected by it are pretty slim and, since it's not gonna kill me, I'll take those chances rather than the vaccine.

[solidlength]

My rationale has nothing to do with politics - I don't play for either team - and everything to do with understanding the risks relative to the reward. So if there's a vaccine for the common cold, I would wait a very long time before considering it. I get vaccinated for the flu because it's stood the test of time - the risk is very low and the payoff is that I don't have down time where I feel like shit for a week or two. But Covid vaccines haven't been tested over a long period of time so we don't know all the risks yet. Perhaps being exposed to Covid has long-term consequences. We don't know that yet, either. But my chances of being infected by it are pretty slim and, since it's not gonna kill me, I'll take those chances rather than the vaccine.

I understand your rationale. I'm glad that you're confident that Covid won't kill you. Not to rain on your parade but the flu vaccine is the least effective vaccine out there at 40%-60% depending on the dominant strains for the given year. I still advocate everyone get it because vaccines don't cause harm, but just saying.

[Fizzby2233]

Solid. Thank you for being a sensible and measure voice of reason. I too agree that getting the vaccination could do far more good for so little effort as it is free than not getting it a risking your own and possibly loved one health. The 320,000 people who have died from covid certainly would wish they had that option. If anyone here is in the health profession I salute you and thank you for all you do in these dark times. Dickens was right it was the best of times it was the worst of times.

[CUSP82]

Hey Fizzy do you think that having covid is an automatic death sentence?

[Fizzby2233]

No. But for some like older people and people with pre existing conditions it can be. And as a kindness to those people we don't want to put them at risk. Also covid is not just a respiratory illness but a trombolic illness which can cause clotting issues heart lung and kidney issues even in people who never showed symptoms or had a mild case. So it is not just about the people who die but who will also be haunted by this. And speaking of numbers is 320,000 dead not enough to care about. So I guess 9/11 deaths were even more meaningless because it was only a few thousand. In my book every life is important and if getting a vaccine is doing my part I would rather do that and know I have done the responsible thing.

[CUSP82]

First off Fizzy good discussion; much will be learned.

Now who puts the vulnerable at risk? Is it societies job to basically close the country to protect vulnerable people? Is it not those that are vulnerable to protect themselves? If I am vulnerable I don't go out where people are around,I don't have them in my house, I have all that I need delivered and in the rare event that I need to go out I will wear the best mask I can buy and gloves. Why should the rest of the community stand on their heads to protect me? Exactly when did I have to stop being responsible for me and let someone else have all the fun?

Oh I know it's to save my life; got it. Now while my community is doing all it can to protect me what is happening to my community? People are losing their jobs; the business they built with their hard work is now gone leaving them broke. Alcoholism, drug use and overdosage,spousal abuse,childhood depression and well as adult depression are all on a steep incline. Education for our kids is in shambles.Homicides and robberies on the rise. I mean I really appreciate my community doing all that for me but it appears to me that what they are doing to protect me is killing them in many way faster than any virus could.
Oh but we're protecting my life and the small minority in this country.Oh but every life is precious; Yes each life is precious to a point and that point is when protecting you hurts other lives. Is it fair to ruin so many lives when it should be my responsibility to protect myself?