Personal statement:
- I am a scientist, a doctor, a believer in the centuries of scientific methods and reasoning that have gone back and forth to come to our, though still learning, very sophisticated and successful medical advancements. I am also a believer in God. Go figure.
- I do NOT, at all, like politicians or care what they have to say about science, as they know little to none of what experts have spent their lives studying and perfecting.
- Scientists and researchers are not rich people and do not benefit much at all compared to their toils for the great things they do and come up with.
- There will be individuals in every profession who think radically and do not go with the vast majority of evidence or research findings – this cannot be helped, but the one outlier is MUCH less likely to have the right answer than the 99% of the others. That’s just statistics.
- Politics should NEVER have an influence on science and how the people are presented with facts – this is dangerous and irresponsible. (Besides, political parties are like football teams and the voters can be like the fanatical fanbase. Tom Brady is, like, the best quarterback, but people hated him because he played for the Patriots. He can play for your least favorite team, but this does not retract from the fact that he is, currently, the best. The same idea extends to a fantastic vaccine coming out and because your political base says it’s bad when the science says it’s not, is just down right irresponsible, and even murderous.)
So, that being out of the way, lets talk conspiracies (I’ve actually heard – like, for reals) surrounding the science.
First conspiracy: “The Government wants you to get vaccinated because they make money off your getting the vaccine.” Okay, this doesn’t make sense at all. The vaccine is currently free. The government is paying for the vaccine for everyone. I’m sure this will have an expiration date, however, and once they feel everyone has had a reasonable window to get vaccinated, they will stop paying for it and the pharmaceutical companies will charge whatever they want.
Second: “The hospitals are making up COVID death diagnosis to get more money from the government.” The government IS subsidizing hospitals for COVID cases whether they die or not because the cost to treat COVID is ridiculously expensive with the intensive care patients require: the isolation protocol and days to weeks of oxygen which can be charged by the hour. Many people don’t have insurance or insurance isn’t covering all of it, so costs go to tax payers – which seems to be another good reason to get that free vaccine. The hospitals are NOT making up COVID diagnosis to get the subsidies, however, that is fraud and a serious violation that could lead to license loss and/or litigation that no one wants to deal with. It is true that some people have other disease processes and then contract COVID which brings them over the edge. Some may argue that COVID didn’t kill these people, that they were sick with other things already, but their other disease processes were controlled, being maintained carefully through medications, diet, therapy, etc, then they got COVID, and their body couldn’t take it anymore. So, without COVID, these people could have lived another several years to decades.
Third: “The government is pushing the vaccine because there’s a microchip in it and they can, then track your every movement.” Do you have a phone? They don’t need a microchip in your body because you willingly carry one in your pocket at all times. Also microchips are huge – like the size of a rice grain and you would need a MUCH larger needle. Also, how would they differentiate which vaccines had the chip in them? The first vaccine? The booster?
Fourth: “The government invented this virus to kill the population.” OR “The government is pushing the vaccine because they know it will kill us”…. *crickets* Does this make sense to anyone? If everyone dies, who will pay their taxes? How does having less people benefit the government? We DO know the government is also made up of people – people who are also susceptible to the virus, right?
Fifth: Not so much of a conspiracy as just very bad information being propagated: “The vaccine is experimental and developed too fast” The vaccine for viruses like COVID has been in development for many years – now that there is a need for them, they already had all the parts, they just needed to assemble. The trials vaccines are required to go through were also all completed. The vaccine is safe. Like 1000x safer than the disease. Everyone talks about how harmless the virus is “it’s just the flu” even though almost 800,000 people have died in the US, but even with the only 1.6% death rateT, the vaccine is 1000x safer, with a death rate of 0.0022%. So, if you love your neighbor, get vaccinated.
T: Current COVID deaths in the US is 793,958 with 48,643,963 cases. Therefore, death rate is deaths/cases= 0.016 x 100 = 1.6% deaths. For fun, I looked up some PAST flu data since people are claiming Flu doesn’t seem as bad because everyone is reporting COVID now. In 2017-2018 Flu cases was 41,000,000, flu deaths were 52,000. Deaths/cases= 0.0013×100 = 0.13% deaths. In other words, no, COVID is not just like the flu, you are 10X more likely to die from COVID.
In conclusion, this virus is costing the government a LOT of money – between subsidizing hospitals for the increased costs, paying for vaccine development from multiple companies and continued vaccination of the public, not to mention the cut to the economy with 700,000 less available workers and trying to keep the remaining people safe with closures. None of this would benefit the government in any way. It just doesn’t make sense to think of the virus or the vaccine as a conspiracy.
To end this segment, I’m going to steal a story my dad told me recently. He has retired from working 31 years at Warner Robins Air Force base (civilian) and has since been picked up by a large Department of Defense contractor to keep up his good work (whatever that is, we don’t talk about it – which works out because I don’t tell him what I do either…. because he’d vomit). Any who, he was talking to a guy at one of the facilities and they were just talking the typical weather, football, small talk, then my dad went to walk away when the guy said “Hey, what do you think this whole COVID vaccine? Kinda crazy isn’t it?” My dad said, “Listen, I’m vaccinated and here’s why; my momma is 91 years old and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I thought even for a moment that I got her sick and caused her to die. Let me tell you another thing, I’ve been on a military base for 31 years before I started here, and working around all of those soldiers who spent time overseas getting shot at, giving up large chunks of their lives with loved ones, risking their lives every single day, sometimes living in hot, miserable conditions for months to years for people they don’t even know, just to keep them safe. I thought, a vaccine was a pretty small sacrifice I could make for my fellow American.”
Yes Emily!!! Thank you for this (and all your others) post!!
NO WONDER WE ARE ALL IN LOVE WITH YOU…..I’m in love with your father too….I’m sure I’d be in love with your whole family if they showed me how you were raised…JUST INCREDIBLE!!!!
I still can’t believe I haven’t been part of this blog since the very inception! I have enjoyed your intellect, sense of humor, compassion and insight since the day they introduced you on PVS!
When you expressed your wishes to leave I was soooo bummed! But so respectful! I enjoyed everyone on PVS and it seemed like all of the docs were VERY much on the same level with Doc Pol! You were NEVER in trouble if doc pol wasn’t seeing you! And a matter of fact? You might just find out you are the luckiest animal owner ever to have such a wide variety of smart, intelligent, inventive, think by the seat of your pants kinda of DOCS!
Please! Keep this type of SCIENTIFIC PROOF NON POLITICAL FACT THUNKING GOING!
Thank you for your posts! They keep me thinking and in no way stalkerish anticipating your witty repertoire!!!!!
I totally agree with all that you said…and good for your Dad…He is a smart man for sure!
I always love what you write!! This in is the best!!!
No one is more accurate making common sense explanations, no matter what it is about than you.
I agree. I am a 57 year old and I got vaccinated because I have both elderly parents ,young nieces, and nephews and I would die myself if I thought I made them sick! To see people make inane, sometimes insane, excuses to not get the vaccine that could save lives, irritates and frightens. Thank you for you post! I have loved them all!! But this one truly Blessed me. Again Thank you!!!
Thank you Emily! If we love one another, then we all must protect one another. ❤️
Excellent just wish more people had some common sense.
Thank you! This post is perfection!
Thank you! I wish I could get every person who has put out ridiculous theories about the vaccine and side effects to read your blog.
Thank you!
Yes!
Thank you voice of reason. God Bless.
Thank you, stay safe, Happy Holidays to you and yours paws included!
Love and appreciate your thoughtful points made Dr Emily ! Carry on with your good work founded though science! Appreciate your caring heart ❤️
Well-said! The politicalization of the vaccine just drives me crazy! We could have had this thing licked! If the former resident of the White House would JUST ONCE recommend that his followers get the vaccine, think how much better off we would be!
He DID tell people to get the vaccine and many of his followers have received their vaccine and their booster.
He did. He in fact is the reason we even have a vaccine its just the political haters are blind to facts.
So many ignorant people out there who want to dictate that they know the vaccine and masks are worthless. I know many have died unvaccinated but I won’t be one of them.
AMEN SISTER!!!!!!!
I’m with you! Get vaccinated and save a life. Maybe your own.
I’m a retired nurse and can’t believe there are nurses who refuse vaccine. Wish the government would refuse to pay medical costs if unvaccinated get the disease, just me.
Amen to that!
Wow. Your a retired nurse ? All those millions of ex smokers who walk around on oxygen that insurance pays for let them die as there dumb enough to smoke and spread second hand carsonogens . Obisity , diabetics, etc etc . I am a retired nurse also . When did you loose your passion and caring for the public we served . This calloused thinking is at the root of why we are such an un loving and un carring country of late. EVERYONE has a right to say what the public wants to inject into THERE body whether we like it or not. I always found it interesting how we as a people are sooooo compassionate that is until its a subject we dont like or dont agree with. In my carrier i treated tens of thousands that i did not agree with yet i still treated them whether they could afford it or not and usually it was not.
I respect your analysis and research on the above. Although, I do not see your analysis or research on the adverse side effects of the vaccine that is documented and relevant to the above information that you presented.
Thank you for sharing this information. God Bless!
That’s because the side effects of the vaccine compared to the side effects of the actual virus are miniscule. You are much more likely to end up with long term horrible side effects from the virus than the vaccine. One of my friends still only smells a rotten smell and her infection was 18 months ago. Another friend’s lungs are permanently damaged and she can’t do anything without getting out of breath and she had the infection a year ago. Stats on side effects of vaccine vs natural infection are not even worth comparing because of the vast difference. Doctors dealing with the disease have desperately tried to convey this message.
I have a friend who had a mild case of Covid almost a year ago. She still suffers with debilitating headaches and “brain fog”. Her life has been pretty much put on hold. So sad! It’s just not worth the risk!
While they may or may not be minuscule side effects, this post is not complete without documenting all aspects of the vaccine. Thus allowing the reader the ability to weigh the pros and cons of the vaccine based on all the info available.
All (negative) aspects of the vaccine are 10000x less severe than the disease. I think that’s all you need to know.
Love reading your stories and applaud your father for what he told that person.
If there is even a tiny chance you could hurt someone by not getting the vaccine and not taking other precautions like masking up, why not?
Very well said. You have hit the nail on the head. Bless you dear.
Thank you Dr. Emily. If only the people who need to read this will do so. Hopefully you have reached at least a few.
Thank you ! Everyone needs to read this. Excellent !
What she said! My dad was in the Air Force, I grew up living a traveling life. Vaccines were a requirement to keep us from getting diseases like smallpox, polio, malaria, yellow fever, and others. I don’t see getting a Covid vaccine any differently. We hear about the deaths, but not as much about the many who have the long term disability after the illness. Thanks for speaking as a voice of reason using the data and science.
Excellent break down of points. Love to see it!
Very thoughtful, I enjoy reading all of your blogs. Blessings to you and your family.
Absolute truth!! Thank you!! As an icu Rn I say!! Please get vaccinated -/ I have put too many people in body bags!!!
We miss you up here!!
Alexandra from rosebush
OMG! I couldn’t imagine loading people into body bags. I hope your mental state can recover. Bless you!
Thanks for using your platform to help people make better decisions re: COVID precautions. Unfortunately, I suspect a large chunk of the audience that needed to hear this the most ditched you when you told them that in fact: Black Lives DO Matter.
You’re probably right. Walking on thin ice.
As an old marketer I’ll say this: you could probably be a “bigger” celebrity by avoiding tough subjects, but you’d be less happy if you weren’t true to yourself.
As another old marketer, I agree completely.
I don’t expect to ever be a “bigger” celebrity. I understand that I am slowly leaking fans as I show my “true colors” but I couldn’t do it any other way. I feel that my purpose is to help people and if all I do is produce pieces that appeals to everyone, I haven’t helped anyone. Thanks!
I was always taught thst singling out one people was racist and bigoted. White lives matter, yellow lives matter, red lives matter. Do you get it now !! Dr. Martin Luther King repeatedly said “All lives matter” how quickly we loose track of these teachings. Interestingly almost all of my African American friends and family recognize just this. Sadly the segment of our society who seem to be the first and loudest to scream racist and bigoted and point there long looming finger are the ones who have lost touch of Dr. Kings teachings . Maybe its just that many grew up listening to him and more as of late have not. :,-(
Despite both of us having had both doses of the vaccine, wearing masks, washing hands, my husband and I both came down with Covid-19. I believe those vaccines kept me from being very sick at all and absolutely saved my husband’s life. Without the vaccine and a monoclonal infusion treatment I am certain my husband would have died. Every adult and child in our family who are eligible have been inoculated. Idiots who try to talk to me of chips? I tell them to let whomever track me all day so that I can preach the wonders of science!
THANK YOU.
Bravo!! Well said! Thank you.
Yes YES YES! Pleasd say it louder for the people with earmuffs and blinders on. At the risk of sounding crass, I have to say that I have never heard more idiotic statements coming from stranger’s (and even people in my own family’s) mouths. Microchipping, hoaxes, poisons, horse wormer, bleach treatments, GOOD GRIEF! The stupidity is astounding.
Yes!!!! Tell it, Dr. Emily!!! ❤️
Emily you are amazing and so correct and your dad is awesome! Good job. I’m vaccinated and got the booster shot. All my children and grandchildren ,that are old enough, have been vaccinated. Doing our part!
Thank you for being the candle in the darkness.
A co-worker of my husband’s just died from Covid after being in the hospital for 6 weeks. He was so, so sick. He was placed on a ventilator for 5 days and then taken off and posted on his Facebook page that he had died while on the ventilator and that now he just needs to get his strength back and move on with life. That didn’t happen. He had to go back on the ventilator and did not survive. He was against the vaccine and lived very carelessly. I’m sure he re-thought that stance while lying in the hospital. That’s why I got the vaccine. I don’t want to be in that position.
The internet is a great tool and at the same time very dangerous. It is way too easy for people to spread ridiculous conspiracy theories that fearful people believe. Those beliefs are dangerous to others and borders on criminal in my opinion.
Great post, Emily. I have started to talk to my antivaxxers in financial terms. They don’t listen to science. Do you have med insurance and sick days for 2 weeks in hospital? Do you have life ins for your kids to finish school, your spouse keep the car, house, business, farm/ranch? Will your parents end up in a stinky nursing home? Do you have pets and livestock care arranged? For the insufficient testing folks, 2.7+ billion doses of the vaccines have been administered world wide.
Even while fully vaccinated, people around me refused so I got sick. I’m happy it was relatively mild and I .don’t seem to have side effects. I’m grateful for the vaccine. My biggest “side effect” is the horrifyingly realization that people I thought were kind and intelligent, who should love me and others, have steadfastly demonstrated that they don’t care about anything but their “rights”. And, they’re ANGRY that anybody suggested that their attitude is wrong. My opinion of them is forever damaged. That has stuck far longer than my lingering cough.
Thank you for your sound and timely comments. I share your sentiments exactly. Retired MD here.
Well said! And, don’t forget Long Covid and the havoc that is causing!
There are concerning aspects of the information that is released that aren’t conspiracy theories – I welcome all feedback because people need to have all available info to make intelligent decisions. I am 57 and am NOT anti-vax by any measure. I had my full series with boosters as a child, again a full series upon joining the Navy. with anti-malaria to visit Africa, Full series again to join the Army & extra for Desert Storm, Shots for State Corrections job, more shots & boosters for new job with state police, yet more again to be a Federal Air Marshal after 9/11 and full series to go to Afghanistan plus chickenpox Vax even though I had chickenpox as a child.
There is a link below referencing the govt stating they won’t release vaccine data for 55 years – this alone should raise alarms.
Above, twice its said the vaccine is free. That is a lie. The government doesn’t “pay” for anything. Any money the govt has available comes from our tax money. WE are paying for everything and should want to monitor all expenses by the govt to ensure our money is used correctly.
I stay pretty up on pandemic stuff from numerous sources but I’ve not seen anything from remotely believable sources that the vaccine has a chip in it to monitor people, nor any reasonable articles that our govt is actively wanting to kill off people. There is however, a stronger possibility that China might be. Reasons would be this -China govt historically enforced population control, they have large numbers of sick/elderly, they “couldve” released virus known to attack weaker persons to reduce country’s population. Seems wild, but China isn’t always reasonable. 2nd, during international sanctions they “couldve” released virus internationally to either punish intnl community or as a militaristic test of bio-engineered weapon to see effectiveness, spread, response, and ability to defeat it. May seem unrealistic but again, we’re talking about the Chinese govt, not the people we’ve known who happen to be Chinese.
There are a plethora if medical staff, not only nurses, to include doctors, virologists, scientists, etc that have gone public about many concerns they have with bad info being spread by Fauci, CDC, FDA, Biden Administration, media, etc. It is smart to listen to both sides of the argument, especially when one side is often banned from social media with reasonable questions unanswered.
Hospitals HAVE been caught inappropriately elevating covid numbers and numerous times have had to release statements reducing their extremely high counts after caught. These are public, not conspiracy theories.
If the vaccination works, why does anyone care if an unvaccinated person chooses to not get the shot? If you are susceptible or protecting a family member who is, feel free to get the Vax. The vast majority of people have very little reason to fear the virus with the survivability rate that it is. Why is there so much backlash against the immune system being trusted? It works. It gets better & stronger when it is tested. People visiting a very remote tribe in South America killed many because although healthy, they exposed the tribe to viruses the tribe had never been exposed to before & more importantly, their immune systems were not prepared for fighting off viruses that by the rest of the world’s standards were, very minor, because our immune systems had over time, been strengthened by fighting off those viruses.
https://dailycaller.com/2021/11/18/fda-requests-year-2076-publish-data-pfizer-vaccine-approval/
I don’t even know where to begin to respond. I think there is a lot of fear in China and a very high perception of their planning skills to think they would release a virus that has no predilection on who it kills. The government is paying for the vaccine, yes, through our tax dollars, but we haven’t felt that hit (yet) and it’s MUCH cheaper, like 100,000x cheaper to fund the vaccine for everyone than to pay for even a couple of people hospitalized for the disease. We want all people (who are healthy enough) to get vaccinated because it keeps it from spreading as easily to others (like my 91 yo grandmama) AND decreases the tax burden of the severely ill patients in the hospital. They have proven that the natural immunity for this virus is not as strong as a vaccinated person’s immunity, especially if the natural infection has permanently weakened the person like my friend who has 3/4 of her lungs scarred over. Here is a link to snopes about the FDA – apparently there are over 390,000 pages of information that have to be individually combed over by experts all over the world and the typical timeline for releasing any information has been set at 500 pages per month, though they are trying to get it up to 5000 pages to hurry things along. Scientists are very careful and thorough, especially with public health is on the line and you should be thankful they are not just shoving it out there without fully reviewing it.
https://www.snopes.com/news/2021/11/19/fda-2076-vaccine-data/
I appreciate your thoughtful response.
Serious scientists are not influenced by politics when running lab experiments or when viewing results from a test. Lab tests start with sterile equipment, use a control and the results can be rerun, verified and reproduced. There are scientists on both sides of the covid debate. You say we haven’t felt the “hit” yet for the price of the vaccines. I disagree. Our inflation rate is through the roof, prices of everything have gone up,, the feds are printing money- some reports over a Trillion under Biden, and the sales tax has gone up with the retail purchases. We’re definitely feeling it, while big pharma profits strictly for vaccines are in the $Billions. With that, we’re being sold that another booster is needed.. How many more boosters are yet going to be mandated? It stands to reason money could be part of any equation. Who would’ve thought Enron could be so corrupt until we learned it was; or Bernie Madoff? I’m not in a position to claim I know which is truly accurate or right but I’m also not advocating that one side be censored either. I am not a conspiracy theorist in that I don’t buy into what most would consider a conspiracy theory. I am an optimistic realist. Being a veteran and with combat experience, I will always look at foreign countries with a critical lens and regarding China, Russia, North Korea, Iran being at the top of the list of those to always verify everything. China has a long history of known human rights abuses, including govt sanctioned population control. It isn’t unreasonable to consider all possibilities with what they’ve shown they’re capable of. They hid the virus, denied it, literally sealed people within their own homes without access to services or even medical personnel. They hard-sealed their people in so no one could escape their own homes. The virus itself defeats immuno-compromised people – generally, these are sick and elderly. These people are also the ones needing the most care. [If] the virus was scientifically modified, which increased evidence seems to allude, it strengthens the reasons to wonder the intent. Biological warfare is real. Using an invisible weapon is difficult to defeat. There is no reason to believe the Chinese govt is incapable of exploring that option – even testing it. Snopes is a poor resource if one is hoping to use them to fact-check anything. They have been called out for providing overtly biased info that was proven inaccurate numerous times. Politics are strong within them. Dr Emily – you refer to your 91 y/o grandmother. I get it… The thing is, is that she is in the very group that is susceptible to the virus. I’m not. Nor are the vast majority of people throughout the world and in this country, we’re probably healthier or have access to better Healthcare, even without insurance, than most. I’m not saying people shouldn’t get vaccinated. It’s a choice. For me, I have no reason to. I can argue there’s a plethora of incomplete data; That there’s a plethora of misinformation being spread by the very sources we’d hope to be able to trust. Basic biology taught is the size of a virus molecule is so incredibly small it passes right through a mask. It’s like trying to stop a mosquitoes with a chain link fence, yet we repeatedly see mask mandates with zero regard for minimum mask standards and you know that if the mask isn’t rated N95 or better it is essentially worthless against this. N95 is the absolute minimum because even those won’t stop it. Cloth wraps around people’s faces being acceptable is ridiculous and a slap in the face of sanity. Evidence strongly suggests that mask and Vax mandates are severely overreaching compared to survivability rates. Lastly, people should always protect themselves from anything they might be susceptible to. It is not ok to expect others to protect [you]. It’s like the boy in the bubble expecting the world’s population to be in their own bubbles so he can feel better about joining them. We all get sick and will die. I lost my mom over 20 years ago before she was 70. Cancer got her and she smoked heavily her entire life. My not smoking didn’t save her. She chose her path and the consequences that came with it – even before she knew the real cost, because “Science”, Doctors, Hollywood, media and our own government all continued to lie to us all well after a small number of people had the proof smoking was bad. They were denigrated and attacked and censored, because of money. Over time, opposition grew and eventually we got a surgeon’s warning on every pack. Challenging obvious misinformation is right. Maintaining open dialog about all of this is also right.
Seriously? Do you really think wearing a mask and not gathering with thousands of people (which is how the majority of cases are spreading so rapidly) is too much to ask to at least try to be a part of getting this under control?? You are selfish. Why should everyone else who is trying to be responsible by getting the vaccine and wearing masks have to worry about you and your “rights.” If you don’t want to wear a mask or get a vaccine stay at home. Very healthy people are dying every day from this. Someone I know personally felt like you do and got Covid and just died after being in the hospital for 6 weeks on and off the ventilator. If you don’t care if that happens to you that’s fine, but you don’t have the right to give it to someone else!!
So I tell you it’s your choice to do what you feel is best for your situation and your stance is that I’m selfish… Lol.
Have you asked yourself if the virus spread is such a concern here, then why is Biden overwhelmingly cool with allowing known covid-positive migrants to enter freely? Zero attempt to close our southern border, which alone would reduce countless new positive cases. And as far as thousands gathering causing the spread – turn on any sports channel and watch the thousands gathering in close proximity to watch the games throughout the nation. We’ve been doing this for about a year now…
The virus will continue to spread to some degree and new variants surely will continue to come just like they have since before we’ve been alive. I just am on the side of demanding more factual transparency and a realistic approach and if the numbers at some point prove the necessity of mass mandates well deal with it but we just aren’t there. Until then, we must call out and hold accountable those, including Biden, Fauci, CDC, FDA, the media, etc that are knowingly spreading false, misleading, or incomplete date that only serves on side of the discussion. We deserve that.
Same thing with smokers. They should all stay home if there going to smoke and spread cancer via second hand smoke etc etc. Its just irresponsible to allow them out in public spreading carsonogins and tar and nicotine. They should be required to wear a mask so thete diseased breathing doesnt infect us all with cancer. Does anyone but me see the insanely insensitive callous train of thinking here. We dont have a covid problem in America we have an uncaring problem mixed with a mob mentality.
As stated, the vaccine is not free, US taxpayer dollars are paying for it not only in the US but across the world as well, and contributing to US debt.
While there are multiple other studies on this, this particular one shows that natural immunity is strong up to 11 months. I would like to know your thoughts on the lack of long term studies on the covid vaccine, as compared to long term studies of other vaccines, to determine what possible long term side effects are, especially given the gene therapy technology used for it. A very concerning unknown because of it being gene therapy.
https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/224/8/1294/6293992
Covid vaccine gene therapy, “mRNA vaccines…signify a breakthrough in the field of gene therapy…”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8170448/
No vaccine has an effect after a few months (other than your immune system’s memory). I think we cannot expect them to have long term studies of a newly released vaccine. It DID pass all the requirements to get passed. I am not worried about it affecting our genes. mRNA is a messenger RNA, which tells the cells to produce a certain protein, this does not affect the host’s genes in any way, only alerts the immune system to the very specific proteins found in the virus so that it attacks immediately in the case of exposure.
Very well, I would be more comfortable had this vaccine been tested longer as in other vaccine trials, some of which had to be pulled such as the RSV vaccine (which was not mRNA but is now back as an mRNA vaccine trial), and the inability to do trials on the mRNA influenza vaccine because of its adverse effects.
Additionally is the recent announcement by the FDA stating their need to wait 55 years before releasing any data on vaccines… This should spark massive numbers of people to want to know why and more importantly, have a strong reason to slow down on Vax mandates. The data is not there. Getting vaccinated should be a choice in any reasonably educated society.
Mike;
I noticed your reply to George. I would like to point out two facts. First is Event 201, held in Oct, 2019 which was a “pandemic” scenario of a corona virus outbreak. “Players” determined solutions, many of which we have seen with the current situation, funded and sponsored by WEF and Gates.
https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/event201/about
The second is the WEF using the current covid situation as an opportunity to transform our economy, the way we live, and societies across the world.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/now-is-the-time-for-a-great-reset/
I’m making this information available only for consideration, it is directly from those who are participating, their words, not conjecture on my part.
As for the FDA wanting to wait 55 years, yes it is true. Here is the actual court document, on page 10 the FDA specifies, given the volume of information, that it would take until 2076 to release the information at 500 pages per month.
https://www.sirillp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/020-Second-Joint-Status-Report-8989f1fed17e2d919391d8df1978006e.pdf
Karen and Mike, since you’re both using the FOIA request process and the FDA’s response as proof that there is a conspiracy, I’d like to share a bit about the FOIA process and hope that you will see how to apply Occam’s Razor going forward should you choose to avoid being duped in the future. Every Federal Agency has a FOIA request response team. A friend of mine worked as a lawyer for the SEC responding to FOIA requests. As he put it at the time the job was to find some reason to deny every request, and then make that case before a judge. Why? Does this prove that there is a deep state trying to keep the public from learning about the evil machinations of their cabal? No, it does not. The boring, mundane truth is this: responding to voluminous document requests takes time and money, and takes staff away from doing the work of their department, in the FDA’s case keeping the public safe from bad drugs and food, in order to screen reams of documents for production to someone with an axe to grind. No agency enjoys doing that. They happen to believe in the importance of the work they do and don’t want to waste time and money on wild goose chase document requests. So they try to deny or delay the requests. The FDA’s first response in this case is “Okay, but it will take ~ forever”, the response from the FOIA requestors lawyers was: “You can do it in two months”, now the judge will decide how much time and energy the FDA will have to spend producing the requested documents. A grand conspiracy is an enormously complicated answer. Standard operating procedure is boring and simple to understand. This is how conspiracy theorists make mountains out of mole hills. As someone said: if you see hoof prints, think horses, not zebras.
Well familiar with the FOIA process but thanks for your input. I prefer a serious conversation.
George, yes I am very familiar with the FOIA process and in fact am still waiting for an appeal response from a request two years ago that did not provide the requested information the first time. I don’t recall saying anything about a conspiracy but rather pointed out the actual court document that anyone could read and see its says the same thing you just pointed out, basically lack of resources to do the job any faster.
George is all-in and seemingly incapable of comprehending the concerns presented. It’s fine, but he’s proven he isn’t taking anything serious. Tge statements, the mandates, the policies, the media all work for him as long as it is what he’s told to believe from his party. I expect more, party aside.
He is actually not alone, there are many who choose to not look at all of the facts and information, let alone giving any of them consideration. There are many who share the same boat.
They’ve explained why it will take a long time. There are 329,000 pages of data which must be reviewed in order to redact proprietary information from the companies making the vaccines. They have 10 employees in the department that reviews FOIA requests (about all topics, not just this one). They suggested to the court that they could get 500 pages a month done. Doesn’t sound like a cover up to me. Sounds like your tax reductions having their desired impact in crippling government efficacy. PS wrt masks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6cTDGqcUpA&t=161s
lol
We’re dealing with a virus that can infect humans as well as other mammals. How is it possible to come up with a vaccine that will knock this out? The herd is simply too large. Are you going to catch every rat mouse and vole and vaccinate them? There are medications that help with symptoms. Why are Doctors who treat symptoms being blacklisted? I can send a link to a video of a Dr. who has treated over a thousand COVID patients and not lost one. Why is a spirited robust discussion on COVID being stifled? Why is a vaccine made for a virus which is now 3 variants downstream (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) the only solution to the mess? It is not too difficult to see why there is a population that is skeptical on this matter. I am not disputing that COVID is dangerous. I’ve had it twice for sure but I am not buying into a vaccine being the only solution to COVID. Please stop supporting politicians who are trampling on the rights of thinking people who know that the vaccine is not a solution. I say pick whether you want to get vaccinated or whether you want to stay in the control group and let’s revisit this in about 5 years to see how this mRNA injection experiment plays out.
I, more often than not, look at things drawing from my experience as a criminal investigator. I try to hear both sides, weigh the evidence of each, use case law for examples as well as common sense. I adjust as needed as new information comes to light that can be verified. There is just too many legitimately reasonable questions resulting from the seemingly unending amounts of contradictory, if not obviously wrong messaging being spread by the very government and media pushing mandates. This is problematic. I tried to do my job very transparently to ensure people understood why I/we needed to do something a certain way or not. It was important because we dealt with people’s freedom and money. Our health is at least as important and people should demand absolute transparency, not accepting any entity to allow one side to be censored. Basic biology has been thrown out with Fauci being allowed to rewrite it. Virus molecules are so incredibly small they easily pass through mask fibers – like trying to stop mosquitoes with a chain link fence. And any virus with the survivability rates as this one do not justify mass mandates in any form.
And where, did you say you earned your science degree? I must have missed it.
Seriously? That’s the best you’ve got? Try challenging what I said, who I’ve referred to. Simply attacking the messenger for wanting an open dialog is pretty sad.
I see spaces in the cloth. How can it stop particles?
The virus that causes COVID-19 is about 0.1 micrometer in diameter. (A micrometer (µm) is one one-thousandth of a millimeter.) The holes in woven cloth are visible to the naked eye and may be five to 200 micrometers in diameter. It is counter-intuitive that cloth can be useful in this setting — it’s been compared to putting up a chain-link fence to stop mosquitoes. However, that analogy is wrong in many ways.
According to aerosol science, whenever liquid hangs in air it is technically an aerosol, but other disciplines use the word “droplet” to mean a coarse particle five micrometers or larger, and reserve “aerosol” for fine particles smaller than five micrometers in effective diameter.
When we breathe, talk, eat, cough, sneeze or sing, we emit particles across a range of sizes, both coarse and fine, and the virus is in those particles. Even though there are gaps between the threads in cloth, the threads are usually wider than the gaps.
Also, at this microscopic level, the thread has thickness, or depth, so the gap is more a tunnel than a window. Microfilaments from broken or irregular threads project into the gap. The particle is not like a mosquito, which can redirect itself to avoid obstacles. A particle with momentum will run into a fibre, even though the air stream is diverted around it, like a ball hitting a wall — this is called impaction.
FYI – the Mayo Clinic also disagrees with your theory that masks offer no protection against the virus.
Conspiracy theorists and fear mongers are ignorant and dangerous.
Mike, your points are well taken. It is important to look at all sides of an issue and discuss them on their merits. Perhaps the importance of this can be understood in 12 Angry Men, there is no room for criticizing, shaming, or blaming when an opinion is being expressed, and Lord knows this is a very hot issue with many opinions in many aspects. There is probably some information that can substantiate what each person said in their response, just as in yours. In your field of work objectivity is critical, issues are looked at with a different eye, it is the same in my business.
Karen,
Great point. It would help if you chose to read and respond to the comment that came my way. I didn’t initiate it but have no issue with calling one out for going there. Enjoy your day.
Mike,
LOL, well I’m not sure which replay you are referring to but if it is to Susie I would say it is unfortunate she has to describe you as selfish given you are one who has given back to his country in the most potentially costly way in protecting it, and it is that giving back that has contributed to her right to decide to get a vaccine. My WWII vet father knew about this, the importance of protecting our rights.
I would also add to her second reply to you regarding masks, while controversy surrounds the effectiveness of masks, if one just uses common sense a barrier to the respiratory track can help, however, there are many other factors that contribute to the potential ineffectiveness of masks as pointed out in this article. And this study doesn’t even touch on the secondary issues of wearing masks such as CO2 retention and its subsequent effects, psychological and social effects, etc., not to mention one’s right to self-determination. I’m with you there. Those who choose to explore all information for a broader understanding of an issue could hardly be called conspiracy theorists, or ignorant and dangerous, if anything they are individuals who want everyone to should have a range of information in order to make their own determination.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7883189/
For Ginny, I would say that there is plenty of published studies and research that anyone without a science degree can read and understand. To imply that one needs a science degree to understand many facets to this issue is short sighted and perhaps more study on her part should be given to reading some of them.
As for George, I’m glad he has the foresight to understand what the doctors are thinking without having ever known them. I would like to know where he came up with the 90% effectiveness figure as all the studies I have looked at do not support that percentage. And not sure where he got the 2 BILLION number from or his 98% of doctors being vaccinated. Perhaps he should cite his sources? As for new variants being produced by humans that catch the virus, again where is the study that demonstrates that. Viruses constantly mutate as is know from the influenza virus.
I often think of my father and what he would think about all of this, I think it would be similar to your thinking. I’m not sure he would take kindly to a government mandate and would work to learn every aspect of this issue, then make a decision for himself. Those who have experienced war, and have seen the horrors of what mankind can do to one another, certainly have a perspective that not everyone can appreciate, and even though I have never been in that position, it was taught to me by my father. Take care, have enjoyed this sharing with you. karen
774,000 former U.S. residents would likely disagree with your last sentence. Also, the virus spreads by traveling on droplets, which ARE too large to pass through your mask.
This is called selection bias. First, you’re paying attention to 1 doctor who thinks treating symptoms is the way to go instead of listening to 100s of Thousands of Drs who say vaccines greatly reduce the number of folks who develop serious symptoms. Second the Dr you do pay attention to likely isn’t at a large hospital but at a clinic and while the most serious cases go to the large hospitals, the minor cases go to that Dr. He isn’t seeing the worst cases. So far the vaccines have proven effective at preventing serious illness and death from all of the variants to date. Oftentimes the variants of a virus share the same vulnerability that the vaccines address. Finally, the fact that the vaccine “only” works 90% of the time at preventing death does not equate to 0%. If the number of cases drop, the number of transmissions drop and the virus can’t find enough new hosts to keep going; that’s why vaccines are greatly more valuable than symptom treatments in ending a pandemic. The experimental vaccines you speak of have been administered over 2 BILLION times globally. If they caused problems comparable to the virus we’d know by now.
No doubt there are some short term benefits to being vaccinated. The last round at our house put me under the weather for about two weeks although I was able to function during that time. I even mowed our 1/2 acre lot with a push mower. The wife who is vaccinated really only got hit for a week.
The fact that this virus can infect animals in the zoo just as easily as humans tells me that a vaccine solution is not possible. Put not your faith in ungodly men.
So, don’t cuddle the zoo animals. You still have to be within close proximity and being vaccinated will keep your infection if you get it to a minimum and keep you from spreading to the zoo animals – if you resume having dinner parties with them.
Being vaccinated will definitely reduce your symptoms (for the time being) when you get infected but it does not keep you from getting infected and it certainly does not prevent you from spreading it to others. I would say that taking the vaccine is something you do for yourself. You are not protecting other people, and other people’s vaccination status is certainly not helping or hindering your safety.
The point I am trying to make is suppose herd immunity happens when 70% of the herd is vaccinated. Even with 70% of the human population vaccinated we’ve barely scratched the surface of the herd that this virus can replicate in. This is basic high school biology.
There is nothing about how this vaccine was developed and rushed into production in 9 months and approved for mass use after 4 months of data that convinces me it is safe. It is just how I am wired.
Another guiding principle that I go by is, “There is nothing new under the sun.” Vaccines against Corona Viruses have been attempted before. They are not on the market. The reason is they were done on animal populations first and the results caused scientists to give up. How convenient that there were no animal trials this time around.
Hi George,
You should be well aware that there are thousands of doctors, nurses, scientists to include virologists that are not in agreement with the vaccine mandates. Minimizing the opposing side to the degree you are isn’t helpful. Additionally, while you’re correct that billions of injections have been administered, that does not relieve the responsibility to reasonably question those who are promoting the vaccines or mandates especially in light of the litany of contradictory and flat out wrong information being spread by Fauci, the CDC, the media and politicians from Biden down. Additionally, it is reasonable to question the vaccine as well as the mandates when the FDA just announced that it “needs 55 years to release vaccine results”. This, by itself, should cause every single person to question everything about this entire event. It is a common argument that these vaccines are not “experimental”, but they actually are because we do not have the data in place to know the long-term effects and virtually zero data on the effects for children under 12. Simply successfully dosing everyone on the planet isn’t data other than to show the numbers of people dosed. There is a huge difference. I don’t know you or your age or experience but I remember when cigarettes were advertised that doctors recommend certain brands for pregnant women and the government and media backed the tobacco industry even when opposition, accusations and lawsuits were growing. We can say the same for big pharma pushing Oxycontin among others to bring this pattern to current events because money was the primary motivator. This easily could be being pushed for the exact same reasons. How many boosters are we at now? Three? and we have a new variant to be scared of… You do understand that we will Always have new variants coming. Covid isn’t new. It has been around for decades. Currently it has about a 99+% survivability rate. Mandates cannot be justified based on that alone.
Mike, with respect, 98.5% of Doctors in the US are vaccinated. If we are to “follow the money” we will soon see that a conspiracy to cover up data would have to involve 500,000 Drs in the US, at least that many medical researchers working for governments, private universities, industry, independent labs and hospitals, etc. Paying off 1 million Drs and PhDs who are already highly paid to get them to trash their life’s work would be expensive. Probably need to pay a Dr $1 million at least to sabotage public health intentionally. (I have a number of friends and relatives who are Drs and medical researchers, and I’m confident zero of them could be bought for anything. The fact that a handful of Drs abused their script writing to pump Oxy into their communities is the exception that proves the rule: a handful did a lot of harm, sort of like the handful that have been bought off by the alternative medicine industry — see eg the Dirty Dozen — to throw shade on the vaccine and virus). Let’s see that’s $1 Trillion just in the US (aka more than the entire phara industry globally takes in in a year and 20+ times the profit they reap). And the pay off for this conspiracy is…what exactly? Seeing people wear masks? Yes, the CDC has changed their guidelines over time as more has been learned about how this particular strain of SARS-COV2 works. That isn’t evidence of manipulation, it’s how science works. Finally, while you may be perfectly comfortable letting 1% of the population die (3.3 million in the US, 70 million globally) most of us are okay with wearing a mask and getting a couple of shots to try to stop the spread. New variants are produced by humans who catch the virus. Had Trump not modeled “worst practices” and shamed those who wore masks this virus would not have become politicized; a larger percentage would have gotten vaccinated sooner meaning fewer variants produced.
George, Not surprising you would have this take. What is, however, is your choices on where you allow yourself to minimize certain aspects while exaggerate others. I say this because you present your argument as if you have some reasonable mindset while mine must be laced with conspiracy. I do not. I do, however, maintain that we do not know all the facts behind this and am open to considering many potential possibilities. I ask questions. When the answers given are not complete or contradict well established science & common sense, I ask more. Most all potential scenarios can be on the table at first and as questions are answered & facts presented, the list of scenarios can be reduced until we know without a doubt what is true and right.
Back to you eluding to conspiracies,, for instance, my “follow the money” remark was more directed in only three directions. 1. Fauci – more is learned as time goes on of his direct connections to the Wuhan Lab and his repeated lies to us and Congress, denying them. What reason or motivation might he have to lie? Since he is the face of the pandemic, he should be 100% transparent and we know this is not the case. 2. Many are looking to try to minimize the hospital’s bad counts on covid positive patients and many have been publicly called out and forced to correct their numbers which showed them to not be close but so far off that intentional manipulation is the most obvious answer and again, to what intent or motivation would this occur? It could be simply money. It could be that with the amount of misinformation that came from Fauci, D.C. politicians & the CDC that there were other reasons – one could also speculate that Trump was very successful in his term despite overwhelming obstruction and the only way to stop him for Dems to have a chance in the next election was to shut down the economy. Covid was a convenient method for that. So many things were said to build up the reasons for a mass lockdown that D.C. was cornered to stay the course and now they’re struggling to find a way to save face. It’s just another theory, so don’t get all wrapped up about it. 3. Big pharma – People like to believe the vaccines are “free” & openly refer to them as such. This couldn’t be further from the truth. What the “government” pays for is our tax money, not theirs. D.C. doesn’t “pay” for anything, we do. They work for us and answer to us, not the other way around. The three Vax manufacturers have gotten absurdly rich from these vaccines and the now 3 subsequent boosters pushed to date. When will that end? Doesn’t it bring you to question why? I do. I want to know why the CEOs have personal wealth exponentially higher resulting from the pandemic vaccinations. In this case, it is concerning because they currently have an open-ended “contract” to keep producing as many vaccines and boosters as they see fit while being paid very well through our tax dollars. In any business and moreover with any company doing business with our government there must be justification for charges paid and accountability.
You again ignore historical abuses by doctors, politicians, media, and corporate tobacco & more recently big pharma in choosing to hide evidence about their products because of money. It only took a very small number of doctors & key players to back the tobacco industry to squash years of accusations they were killing people. No different from Oxy. And a monetary pittance compared to the profits collected. Many people’s professional lives were systematically destroyed for opposing them. We see the very same pattern for anyone regardless of their resume, being censored, fired, ostracized, etc for opposing pandemic mandates, vaccines, & masks.
As far as other countries – it is well established that a large number of countries almost blindly follow along with what the U.S.A. says. We must absolutely be more transparent and accountable for that alone. It’s noticeable when any other country’s medical/scientific research & resulting data challenges Vax / mask mandates they are relegated to absurdity. Scientists actually expect results to be challenged & never stop challenging their own research. That is how “science works”.
You want to teach me how science works – ok, I’ll play along. What you’ve chosen to miss is that while I agree we adjust based on learned information and that may have occurred, but the powers to be also stated things that were absurdly wrong and based recommendations & policy on them. At first they said infants didn’t need masks because their immune systems were stronger than adults – a convenient reason to not mandate masks on difficult infants on flights & it flies in the face of reality. The fact is, is that basic biology has taught us for more than half a century that masks are not capable to stop a virus at all. It is basic biology and physics. Maybe people should take a class before it is rewritten to comply with the “new science” that is only compatible with the pandemic response to justify mass mandates.
You brought up Trump as a failure. OK, I challenge you to set aside bias and go research the time line of events. Trump was ahead of everyone in his response to shut down travel from China while Pelosi, other Dems, and the media eviscerated him for being too rash – or “racist” was thrown around a lot and Pelosi immediately went to Chinatown to walk among the people and shops to publicly Contradict Trump on T.V. and all the Trump haters piled on. Trump stood strong on the travel ban thankfully but also mostly followed along with Fauci’s recommendations and to appease Dems. I guess it is easier to believe them when you choose to want to hate someone despite the lack of actual evidence to support their claims. The position of POTUS is to also instill confidence and be a primary source of calming leadership. With the litany of established science proving masks are ineffective it is no surprise Trump would oppose them. Fact is, is that the mask mandates are asinine because they do not have standards so people wear anything & it is all considered “acceptable” regardless of their capabilities.
I believe you meant to say COVID-19 has been around since late 2019, not “decades”. Perhaps you meant “coronaviruses” have been around for decades — in fact millennia – as they cause the common cold. As for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the disease COVID-19 had — until late 2019, no human had ever been exposed to that genome virus. That’s why it was called a “novel virus”. No one had natural immunity to it.
It is not “like the flu”.
As for survivability, if you can assure me I’m not going to be the 1% that dies, then it would be okay to not be vaccinated. Since you can’t, I shall be grateful for my vaccination (less likely to die). Young, middle aged, elderly. Anyone can die and it’s an oh so horrible death.
Thank you for your service! I too served (US Army Medical Corp).
Oh, and hopefully I can be assured I won’t suffer chronic symptoms (scarred lungs, cardiac disease, etc).
Hi Margaret,
A couple of points
1. I am confident that I said covid has been around for decades, not Covid-19 since 19 was just a variant at that time. If it said covid-19 then auto-fill got me. And yes, it has actually been around for a long time.
2. I never once told anyone to not get a vaccine whether the survivability rate was 99+% or 110%. That is a personal decision and a line I have never crossed. I comfortably stand with everything I have said regarding this topic. There is a crazy amount of misinformation spread. There is also entirely too much contradictory messaging spewed as well as a resulting amount of fear messaging. Your stated resume is not relevant when you choose to ignore these very problematic areas. My entire platform regarding this is that with the litany of legitimate questions born from horrendous messaging, statements, time-tables, mandates, policy, and media coverage, every reasonably intelligent person should demand proper answers. Ensuring an open forum for realistic, fact-based discussion is the proper way forward. What we’ve seen by the powers-to-be have created a mess that was certainly avoidable and the further this administration continues to perpetuate it the less they’ll be taken seriously, just like anyone regurgitating baseless or obviously false information that they’ve picked up. To date, there is very little information about this birus/pandemic that we can actually believe it true and nothing that justifies mass mandates.
Why aren’t you concerned about dying from other things. I guess its okay to die as long as its not covid. You’re not less likely to die. It will happen one day
Why am I not concerned about dying from other things?
We are all going to die. No one will escape this fate. So I would rather life my life as free as possible and experience as many things I can.
I’ve played almost every organized sport I’ve ever seen, have 2 tours in the Navy, one in the Army, was a corrections officer, state trooper, federal air marshal and civilian contractor in Afghanistan for 49 months training US Military in Anti terrorism, anti-IED criminal networking, post blast investigation while advising 2 star generals in specific areas of responsibility, I’ve traveled all 50 states and have been to 22 countries, have over 200 parachute jumps (1 military), was a volunteer firefighter, EMT for 25 years, member of a Search and Rescue Dive Team, Boy Scout Scoutmaster, professional photographer, high school and college football official for over 25 years, and father of two among other things. We cannot live in fear because it is detrimental to living. I’ve been able to meet such a wide ranging number of people all over the world and have seen so many things because I choose to leave the safety of my house, job, town, etc and put myself out there because life isn’t here within social media or our phones. The only place where I daily assumed I was going to die was when I was in Afghanistan for 4 years because my job had me outside the wire In a war zone. None of this even matters because we’re talking about a virus that has a known survivability rate of 99+%. Read that again. That rate is on par with, if not better, than driving your car to the grocery store. I refuse to allow something that can be killed simply by washing my hands to stop me from living my life. Politicians and the media have blown the fear level up to incredible heights when the numbers, while seemingly high, still do not justify mass mandates in any form when looking at the entirety of what we’re facing.
God bless you
Yeah Mike, and Trump quietly behind the scenes got his vaccine without saying anything because he was more ill from Covid than he ever let on and realized he was wrong and probably terrified to get it again! He wanted to appear strong and hold his ground about the virus so he hid the fact that he got vaccinated. That’s who you follow? Trump was a joke of a president – not that Biden is a lot better in my opinion, but really? Trump?
Surely you have evidence that backs up your statements? I’ll wait. Until then, spare me.
My brother-in-laws brother felt the same way – going to great lengths to prove his point and telling the rest of us how ignorant we were for getting vaccinated. He spent the last year an a half ranting about the government and conspiracies, etc, etc. He died 3 days ago alone at home too ill to even call for help. He was 60 and very healthy.
All politics aside, aren’t you even a little bit concerned about getting the virus at all? Would it be worth all the arguing? I really do pray you stay well and take care of yourself, and I sincerely mean that. I don’t want anyone to go through that. I’m done posting on the subject.
I do not denigrate those who wish to get the shot. Personal choice and its available. Am I concerned? It’s been widely reported this virus has a 99+% survivability rating. In the big scheme of things, that is awesome. It’s also been reported that people with “O” blood type are 25% less likely to get covid than the rest of the population – I’m O. I’m 57. In my lifetime I’ve only had the flu a few times and in each case, it was a mandated shot while I was in the military and I got the flu (not a cold) each time. I didn’t believe in mandated mass vaccinations for a common virus like that even though millions of people in this country have died as a result of the flu in its various variants over the years.
There are reports that the vaccine is effective for as little as three months and boosters are recommended if not mandated and we’re on the 3rd series of those SO FAR. How many more will they make, recommend, mandate at taxpayer’s expense? If the Vax is so good, why are we masking? If the masks are mandated, why are there zero minimum standards on effectiveness? The NIOSH gives guidelines for N95 minimum but realistically, wearing a respirator is about the only thing capable of stopping the virus molecule. We’ve seen all the droplet arguments, but those are not reality. We’ve been taught basic biology but all that is being rewritten by supposed purveyors of the new pandemic rules and even educated people are falling in line rather than questioning the legitimacy. Infants we were told had a superior immune system than healthy adults and people choose to throw away all common sense and science to go along with it. Conspiracies aside, it only makes sense to keep an open mind and challenge big pharma’s motivation when they have a blank check paid by our tax dollars and green-lighted by the government with virtually zero accountability. 3rd booster now and how many more yet to come? Delta variant was reportedly “more easily spread but also less lethal” than covid-19 yet the powers to be extended the fear mongering. It has already been reported this latest variant is also less lethal than the rest but the govt & Fauci have chosen to ignore that while saying they’re looking at it closely. On the face, we’d want caution, surely. They’re repeated questionable statements, contradictions, false information mandates and actions all force reasonable people to question their intent and ethics. I can keep going… We must be able to trust those who are the purveyors of information and be able to live our lives as we choose, as our Constitution and Bill of Rights acknowledges. There are many questions needing answered.
You are so right and said it so well!!! Sounds like wisdom runs in the family. I like what your dad said, too!!! Love the pics and family participation ❤️Stay safe and well😷🙏🏻😻
Hang in there is Emily, and don’t be depressed.
Try to have a “happy” Christmas (I stop using the word — merry) because little children makes you happy and merry.
Preach, girl! I had a conversation with a patient who asked if I thought the gvmnt was tracking us through the vaccine. I told her the same thing–we call carry a phone, our cars have computers in them. If they wanna track me, they can. They don’t need a vaccine, and if they WERE tracking through the vaccine and it still saves lives, come at me, bruh. I’ll take it. I’m double vaxxed and boostered, partly because I’m human and also a health care worker.
Emily, I love your eyeball.
Is it your eyeball, or is it someone else’s? I say this because a mother of three and you’re a doctor should have blood shot eyes.
First the vaccine is not free. Your tax dollars paid for it , hence not free. When you say the government pays for it, you’re the government. God bless your dad but when you’re vaccinated, you can still transmit the virus. And if you believe in God, read what He said, ” No one has authority over the day of his death” We have no say so when we die. “Our days are numbered” All we can do is comfort the sick. Our time here on earth is decided by God.
Joe, if our time on Earth is determined only by God, and we have no agency in our own life/death or anyone else’s, then you must be okay with abortion. Must have been that life’s time to end as ordained by God. Right?
Death time is known by God. He knows the end from the beginning which is different from predestination. Free choice means we can eat our self to death or skydive without a parachute.
If God lets that abortion happen then I pity the person who has to answer to Him for it. Our days here on earth are determined by God. We have the freedom to choose or to choose otherwise. So we’re supposed to do whats right.
Plus abortion is murder. Its the taking of an innocent life. We are not to take life, we are just to comfort the dying.
Amen, thank you for this ! Your respect for all living things shines in this smart, empathetic blog.
It’s great to read your common-sense comments, Dr. Emily. Unfortunately, these days common sense is not as “common” as it had been once . It’s sad that people can be so gullible, and that their actions (or inactions) can hurt others. Thanks for your honesty, bravery and love.
Great article Dr. Emily. Now what’s going around is it changes your DNA and God won’t love you any more.
Yes, well these people need to focus more on God and His love for us and how we should be loving each other and keeping each other protected. People who are worried about it changing our DNA don’t even understand what DNA is – let alone mRNA.
Beautifully written post. Well said. You tell ‘em Dr. Emily!!
Thank you for a common sense, based on science, non political practical answer to all the crazy stuff we are hearing. I ask God why people say they believe in Him, believe He can heal, can do anything – but apparently they can not imagine Him providing the knowledge and capacity to have the vaccine available when needed.
My God is big enough to do anything.
Love your insight and wisdom on this… unfortunately….volatile issue! I’m 75, have not had Covid, isolated myself for 2 weeks in the beginning but decided that wisdom was in masking where necessary, and continuing hand washing, and living my life. I did get the vaccine just in case…because I wanted to be safe for my kids and grandkids. Not out of fear…that’s no way to live… but out of respect for others. God bless you, Dr. Emily.
I totally agree! I wish I could make some of my family/friends/acquaintances believe the science!
I am a healthcare worker and have seen some of the awfulness that a vaccine can prevent.
Thank you for sharing!
Excellent!! Thank you for a very well said post.
Thank you
I wish my granddaughter and boyfriend would read and heed. My husband and I, both early 70’s, just got our booster a week ago. I hate the achy joints (makes my arthritis horrible) and the fever, and I had both again even though it was a booster. I’m told this means our immune response is strong. I’d rather go through 12-24 hours of not feeling great than the alternative. You tell ‘em, Dr. Emily!
I am a scientist also. I have not heard any of this said any better than you just did ( and it was illustrated!)
Thank you for this and all your wonderful writing.
Amen. Vaccines and masks are our current best defense.
“The Excellent Dr. Emily.” — Dr. Pol producer, circa 2014
And by the way, your dad rocks.
ajk1962f, fully vaxxed and hoping to get booster soon
Dear Emily
Before I start my letter I do have to give you that: you are a brave women. I wrote you a few times before feeling silly to do it and sillier not to….
I am from Israel a very small place (22,000 sq. Km.) filled with 10 million people with millions opinions, tens of religious beliefs gathered here from more than 100 countries but united with opposing vaccination and masks and not understanding that these together with the simple action of washing hands more frequently would save them and the world.
So being an old lady I try not to mingle (a sad way of living my life) and get very angry towards the stupidity around me (even sadder)
Reading your words gave me 5 minutes of comfort feeling I am not the only one thinking that the world has gone mad…
Be healthy and happy or in the words of Spoke “live long and prosper”
Dr. Anat gueta
I appreciate an open dialog and the time people put in to thoughtful discussion especially for what is an opvious polarizing topic.. It has become polarized primarily due to highly contradictory messaging from sources most people have come to want to believe are safe sources. I began my comments here with the intent to offer insight to what science taught us prior to this Fauci-led pandemic which is fraught with so much misinformation and contradictory messaging that reasonable people must not rely upon those promoting it and must call it out at every incidence. Misinformation comes in numerous forms. Often, we find it, like within your comments, wrapped up in pretty dressing while also presented with disdain. Yes, we’ve all seen the ‘water droplet” defense. While it is certainly true that water droplets will “catch” and “contain” virus molecules, They do not contain them all. It is quite comical that you refer to the lack of a molecule having a steering mechanism (obviously paraphrasing but that is what you inferred) which makes molecules incapable of passing through the gaps within the fibers of a mask and flies in the face of intelligent commentary. So to keep it at your level of dialog, I’ll switch gears. Try wearing your mask outside, in winter cold conditions and breathe through it. See all those little vapor droplets flying around in your expelled breath? Yeah, that vapor that escapes through the masks and pass around/through every opening it finds? Spare us your attempt at legitimizing your argument because both science and reality do not actually back you. We’re actively watching science being rewritten under the fog of this pandemic to justify mask and vaccine mandates.
Mike, your points are well taken. It is important to look at all sides of an issue and discuss them on their merits. Perhaps the importance of this can be understood in 12 Angry Men, there is no room for criticizing, shaming, or blaming when an opinion is being expressed, and Lord knows this is a very hot issue with many opinions in many aspects. There is probably some information that can substantiate what each person said in their response, just as in yours. In your field of work objectivity is critical, issues are looked at with a different eye, it is the same in my business.
You do what you need to do. I just want this thing to end and I think if there is anything we can do to make that happen or at least try to make that happen, we should do that. I want you to be safe as well as everyone around you.
I just found out my brother in law died from Covid. His Facebook is filled with anti-vax/anti-government articles. He died a horrendous death and suffered greatly and needlessly for weeks. I won’t even go into details. He was 60 and very healthy. Had he gotten the vaccine, he would be alive right now. My sister got Covid after getting the vaccine and had a mild cold.
I am not trying to be a right-fighter or argumentative – I don’t want that to happen to other people including you.
Nor do I but this virus or variations of it will not end. I have been fortunate to meet many people who had covid but did not need hospitalization. I’m sorry for your loss.
Of course it won’t. Covid has been around longer than any of us and new variants as well as new viruses will always be born. I refuse to live in fear. Life is short enough. We all have an end date and method yet to be determined. Certainly one can avoid falling from a rooftop if they never get on a roof or die from a plane crash if they never fly, but no matter how many possibilities you believe you’ve prevented, your ticket will still get punched at some point and many will never see it coming. To me, life isn’t life if I have no control over how I choose to live. I am not anti-vax by any measure. I have had all my childhood shots and a full series repeated upon joining the Navy, then again upon joining the Army, then again for state corrections job, again for State Police, boosters for Federal Air Marshal post 9/11 and full series with a chickenpox vaccine to go to Afghanistan as a contractor even though I had had chickenpox as a child. I chose those – except for when I was a child, because they were part of very specific employment opportunities I sought. Not mandated just to live my life. The data on these vaccines just isn’t there and that is problematic at best.
Agree with you. This virus is being exploited for other reasons. Influenza has annual variations and over the years there have been some flu strains with more severe problems, but never exploited like this. Mandates are out for me and won’t comply with them. If I take any medical treatment it will be by my choice. One thing that is truly frightening is the number of laws we have that protect us from this force, yet are being ignored. That should be a huge clue as to what is going on. At least, IMHO.
Yes, there are massive problems with how this is (we are) being handled and our laws and Constitution being trampled on by this administration. He didn’t win by enough to be making such overwhelmingly big changes to our country’s basic way of life. A President in a very short-term person in office who should never be allowed to fundamentally change the way the country has been for 245 years. Congress and the Supreme Court too.
Sadly, by not exercising our responsibility to keep our government in check, this current problem we have has been in play for many years, and now extends far beyond just the presidency but indeed does include Congress. While many will defend Reagan, I think the last true president I remember was Kennedy, after his assassination it seems society and the govt began to slide downhill, where now I believe we have pretty much lost all essence of what the original intent was by our Founders…unless we live up to our duty and take it back.
Sorry for your family’s loss. Sounds like he used his individual right to decide his own path. His choice is not your responsibility, never was. Your desire to want everyone to be safe, while honorable, is also naive & has zero bearing on other people’s choices unless they choose to allow your feelings to weigh in on them. The numbers do not justify mass mandates in any form. People should be able to do their best to look out for themselves and live with the consequences of their decisions.
Beautifully stated. 100% agree with everything you said. I am immune-compromised because I had anti-vaxxer parents (I grew up in the 60’s) and as a result have a damaged ventricle in my heart, fibromyalgia, poly cystic ovarian disease, I could go on. I discussed the vaccine with my doctor and cardiologist – they said, the benefits outweigh any risk. I have two adult children. I don’t wish to be a carrier or put them at risk. When I go through the drive through, I wear a mask. I AM my brother’s keeper. Been vaccinated with Moderna (2x) and am now scheduling my flu shot plus the COVID booster which will be either Pfeizer or Johnson & Johnson. I don’t want to get COVID myself but I would not be able to live with myself if I inadvertently “carried” the virus and passed it along. I got tested twice over the past year because I was symptomatic – I didn’t have it and I’m grateful for that. Thank you for stating what other scientists (you’re one too) are clear on. My son is also a scientist and is overly cautious with me because he doesn’t want to kill his mother. <3
You hit the nail squarely on the head. What really scares me is that the people who push this false narrative could be in power very soon. The likes of Marjorie Green and her ilk make my stomach churn. God save us.
Good words, Dr. Emily! Getting my booster next week
OMG the voice of reason. How dare you lol. ALL such good points. Thanks for a VERY concise and perfect post.
Well said Emily.
Thank you Dr. Emily!
I lost a sister and brother in law to this terrible disease and I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
Thank you for your scientific knowledge and your platform to hopefully enlighten.
Emily, I have always loved you, and most especially your ability to be open-minded and caring for all different people. I was very disappointed to read your judgemental comments regarding the vaccine and those who choose to get the jab or not. I do not believe in any of those ridiculously crazy conspiracy theories floating around out there, but I am not vaccinated for several personal reasons and I am 100% behind the decision I made. Having said that .. if you’re going to make statements and use your platform as “a scientist and a doctor”, you should include everything with regard to that, not just what you want to say to support your narrative. There are many who don’t believe in getting the vaccines for the flu or pneumonia or covid; and more importantly, there are people, believe it or not, who cannot get the vaccine for medical reasons, I being one of them. To infer people are murderous is not only wrong, it’s absolutely offensive. Because I am not vaccinated, I do everything in my power to not only keep myself safe but to keep others safe, as well. I do not go out anymore and stay within the confines of my home, even going as far as to have my groceries delivered so I am not around others. I do not allow anyone in my home who does not live here. I wear masks whenever I am sick, and I follow all of the safety precautions and protocols everyday, whether sick or not. I was really surprised and disappointed to read this latest vlog from you. I expected more, and different. I have actual MD’s in my family and I’ve never heard any of them talk to anyone like you just have.
I am so sorry that you felt personally attacked by this article. It was not intended to attack anyone, just expose the rationality behind some conspiracies. I understand that not everyone can get the vaccine, but that is why eligible people should absolutely do it, to protect people like you.
I don’t believe you had any malicious intent and were being quite honest and factual. I recently bought some very rural land to go off grid and have a place for my family that still has to work, so they can get away from all this madness. I no longer recognize this world and so many people who don’t care about anyone but themselves. As a veteran Jan 6th broke my heart and my faith in the goodness of others. Watching those who took the same oath as myself and calling themselves patriots was the final straw. Knowing there are good honest people out there like you provides some hope. You can’t please everyone and there is also a lot of hate and meanness out there but keep who you are. You are an amazing individual and your words are needed now more than ever.
I totally agree that everyone should make the choice they are comfortable with. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to get the vaccine but decided to get it. That was my decision. You are doing the right thing to take extra safeguards to keep others safe with staying home and wearing your mask, etc. If everyone did this who did not want to get the vaccine I think we would still be in good shape as far as stopping the virus. My problem is with the people who refuse to wear masks around others and want to live as though everything is normal while they are potentially making others sick.
Well said, Emily, thank you. It’s a tragedy that so many people choose to believe the misinformation and conspiracies. Sad.
Love the way you think and do your homework, Dr Emily.
I’m 88 and am fully vaccinated because I don’t want that COVID crap to screw up my next 88 years😳🙏
Keep up the good, smart sensible work, my dear brilliant friend🤠🍀
Thank you for your thoughts.
Great post Emily! I so wish more people would read it and take it to heart. Thanks for all you do!
My mom died at 78 from cancer and emphysema. She was a housewife who never smoked or drank but all the men in the family did. 2nd hand smoke killed her even though she led a very quiet, and otherwise healthy life. Many still complain about government overreach to this day about not being able to smoke wherever they want regardless of the damage to others and millions of scientific papers outlining the dangers of smoking. Anyone who doesn’t want the vaccine or wear a mask should be the ones staying home. Your health is your choice but harming others is not.
Thank you, Emily, for your comments. My kids are antivaxers and nothing I say will change their minds. They are not stupid, but they have been influenced by others and what they read online. Sadly, there are many many people who believe the conspiracy theories. I agree 100% with your comments. Hopefully it will change some people’s minds. Hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I still miss you on Dr. Pol, but fortunately I can see you on reruns!
Well worth the 2 hours and 39 minutes to watch this and notice that this is on YouTube and it hasn’t been pulled down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lraR1R_Imi8
The most even handed discussion on what is going on. The vaccine definitely helps some people and it definitely hurts others.
So, if you are willing to learn more about Covid, Fauci’s involvement and how we got here, this is not a conspiracy theory rather, this information is the result of numerous FOIA requests and publicly released data, evidence and statements by Fauci and other key players. Know the background/unbiased history so you understand the resistance today.
https://www.glennbeck.com/specials/live-now-crimes-or-cover-up-exposing-the-worlds-most-dangerous-lie?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1