Zippergate said:
1. These experimental mRNA vaccines are not FDA-approved having mostly bypassed the safety testing vaccines typically undergo. There is no long-term data on these vaccines.
2. It is unclear whether the mRNA vaccines reduce transmission. IIRC, the endpoint for the clinical trials was reduction of severe disease; that's not the same as reduction in infection and transmission though that is likely true.
3. People at high-risk of Covid can receive the vaccine to reduce their risk. The vaccine works, no? If they still feel unsafe, they can adjust their behavior.
4. ADE. Some scientists say vaccines should not be used universally in the middle of a pandemic.
5. My body, my choice. Bill Gates, the world's leading and most powerful advocate for mass vaccinations, a person certainly in strong position to evaluate the risk-reward on these vaccines and a person who, at age 65 has an elevated risk for Covid, has decided not to be vaccinated. What does that tell you? (As an aside, there have been stories that his children have not received any vaccinations at all.)
I'm not against vaccinations, but I'm not convinced that these particular vaccines are right for everyone right now, especially my two teenage boys.
You should do your own research and do what you want. But you also should not share information that is not true.
1. No safety testing was skipped. Most safety issues with vaccines are short term. True that long term data is not available because you would need a time machine. But the mRNA vaccines will be FDA approved any day now.
2. Even if they did not reduce transmission of those infected, by stopping spread by 90-95% the mRNA vaccines would reduce transmission substantially. But they also appear to reduce transmission in breakthrough cases. Data is coming out of nursing homes. The endpoint for the mRNA trials was minor to moderate disease, which is a fine endpoint. Severe disease is more important but the trials would have had to run much longer with that endpoint and we are in a pandemic.
3. I agree. Vaccinated people should worry less.
4. Some scientists, actually many scientists, are idiots. I know, I am a scientist. We should vaccinate to stop the pandemic. As we did.
5. Bill Gates tweeted that he got vaccinated as soon as he could and shared a photo. There are internet weirdos who say an actor took his place.
The lack of long term follow up data is really the only argument against. There is a calculation to be made for teenagers who are unlikely to be harmed by the virus (ignoring the benefit to society if we all get vaccinated). My older teen has been vaccinated and my younger one will be as soon as the age drops for the vaccine.
