Misinformation

 There was a piece in the WSJ today titled "A false Narrative about Misinformation," by Robert Kaplan.  The takeaway is that Misinformation has had little effect on vaccination acceptance.  The article cites several polls and studies that compared the answers people gave before the pandemic to the current percent of the populace who remain unvaccinated.  The people who said they would not get a vaccination,  did not get the vaccination.  The numbers of vaccine skeptics did not increase because of  the  right wing  misinformation campaign, as one might fear.

No, these dunderheads were not influenced by any scientific facts or medical advice.  They simply saw the far-fetched lies as more evidence to support their previously-held opinions.  

No one has changed their mind, despite all the money spent by both sides to convince the other side that it was wrong.

We, the rightious, must also wonder if our own predispositions could be influencing the science and facts that we hold to be true.    

Everything we have learned about communicable disease can be summed-up in a few words: human interaction spreads the virus.  When you stop human interaction or get vaccinated  the disease cannot spread and it dies with it's last victim.    

This supports the wisdom of requiring  PROOF of vaccination before allowing anyone entry to any public place and especially all public transportation venues. 

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Post script Aug 7 2021

More corroboration of the observation that more factual information doesn't change opinions when it comes to vaccines:

https://news.yahoo.com/yougov-poll-vaccines-delta-210424125.html

"A survey of 1,552 U.S. adults, conducted from July 30 to Aug. 2, found that a full 40 percent of those who remain unvaccinated now believe that the COVID-19 vaccines, which rank among the safest ever produced, represent a bigger threat to their personal well-being than COVID-19 itself — even though more than 52,000 Americans are currently hospitalized because of the virus, nearly all of them unvaccinated, and more than 615,000 have already died from it."

"Just Shot Me"

Now that the end of the Pandemic seems to be in sight, we are all jostling in line to get The Shot (aka COVID-19 Vaccine).

I see celebrities and government officials doing photo-ops of them getting The Shot.  They rationalize being among the first because of their status as opinion-leaders, or "essential workers" but I am skeptical that seeing Nancy Pelosi or Mitch McConnel getting a shot is persuading any VAX skeptic to offer their arm to allow  alien sperm to be injected.  Nor do I consider either of them to be "essential" since they have accomplished nothing to ensure that the citizens are safe or well-fed. 

It seems to me that the way to stop the pandemic is to offer the vaccine to people who have the most human interactions.  First Priority should be the nurses and doctors who are personally involved with caring for sick patients.  Then other hospital and group facility staff that directly work with residents (and inmates)  and those who have customer facing positions like cashiers, cooks, servers, barbers, letter carriers, tradespeople like plumbers, repair technicians and electricians who need enter residences to do their jobs, people who work at counters, anyone who has hands-on food preparation or delivery. Also Classroom Teachers doing in person classes.  Then anyone in residential homes setting, including visitors.

If folks at these transmission points can be immunized as a priority.  The spread should be easier to stop. Then I would consider offering the vaccine to "essential workers." Active military, cops, firemen, persons who  need to show-up to keep the wheels of society running.  (This excludes most government workers, especially elected representatives.)

After these folks, then the general public should be next in line according to risk factors such as age, ethnicity, economic status, location, compromising health conditions.   This will be tricky.  I think there should be an outreach to "at risk" communities where infection spread is more of a problem.   Although I would be glad to get The Shot because I am over 75 with high BP  and fat (and therefore at higher risk from Covid complications), I think I would rather see a healthy 50 year old who needs to take public transportation to get to work get immunized before me.    

In other words the risk factor should not be solely based on who is most likely to die, but who is most likely to get and spread the disease.  Since I live in a suburb where there are fewer cases, since I stay home except for food and supplies, and I wash my hands, stay masked and distanced when out.  I am less of a spread risk than someone who is in constant close interaction with other folks.

All this intellectualizing is mere virtue signaling,  of course.  My survival instinct hopes that I am called tomorrow and told I am on "the list".  You can be assured:  I will show-up for my shot.

AFTERTHOUGHT: 

When they give you the second Covid shot you should get a card that certifies that you have had vaccine.  Restaurants and other businesses could then post signs saying "Only those who have had vaccine are welcome inside."  New job title for bouncers:  Virus checker.