Watch Peter Zeihan, he is entertaining and informative..
Short version is, delta variant came along and messed stuff up. (Higher basic reproduction number, so more transmissible - and lower effectiveness against that strain - still high enough where it makes a difference to get vaccinated, but its now measured in "prevents severe symptoms" at a rate above 90% (see f.e.: https://www.statnews.com/2021/07/28...ccine-slips-to-84-after-six-months-data-show/ but its more a between the lines item in that article) ), which means, you need a higher vaccination (/infection) rate in the general public for "herd immunity to trigger". (= People who are not vaccinated also to be protected, by transmission rates slowing down to a crawl in the overall population.) Coincidently that rate (vaccination rate needed for herd immunity under delta variant) is now so high (80%+ of population), that most european countries struggle to get to it.
So you are taking the vaccine to prevent more severe outcomes on your end, if you get it, and to slow down progression in the population, which helps with hospital beds, just not "enough".
Booster shots might address this ("third shot") -- but hardly any info on that out right now - because its a PR disaster if you try to explain to people which companies vaccine, when would do more and... Logic still goes - its effective in slowing down case reproduction rate (you arent sick as long afair is the aspect by which it achieves that), and provides a 95%-84% reduction in severe illness probability, if you are infected. Risks likely arent worse now, than they will be later > this translates into politics telling people, take it now. And imho rightly so.
People saw that coming almost a year ago (higher vaccination rate in populations needed, because of delta), I made a post in the old covid thread way back when... And it was basically clear back then, that other preventative measures would have to be reapplied (to some extent) this winter.
Last edited by notimp,
