The case for non-pharmaceutical covid defences

@wwaycorrigan

[Listen to an audio version of this blog entry here.]

When it comes to explaining my continued reluctance to get the Sars-CoV-2 vaccine to those who have no issue with it, it's like we're on a different plain, nay planet, altogether.

Where I see the figure six, they see a nine and vice versa, something to that effect.

Lining up for a jab to live life but not necessarily a jab to save lives.

Just do it

'Is it that you're frightened of needles?', is a common, benign initial question. I'm not, although I have been known to get rather lightheaded after injections and I needed a little more recuperation time than the average person after the one and only occasion I gave blood (it hasn't deterred me from wishing to donate again, it's just Colombia doesn't want my blood now).  

'Oh, so you're afraid that the vaccine will do you more harm than good? You don't need to worry, it's practically 100 per cent safe.' On this front, I'm not really worried about potential nasty side effects, yet the idea that the vaccines are fully safe we know is not true.

What's more, the benefit-risk balance comes down more heavily on the latter side the younger one is. Covid-19 itself, on the other hand, is ageist, with the elderly facing a far greater risk of severe infection and death.  

'Ah, so you're one of those conspiracy theorists who think that the vaccine implants a microchip in your body or something like that.' No. As much as some might wish to label me thus, I don't believe that.

What I certainly do have is much less confidence in governments and leading civil servants that are directing public health across the globe. 

The 'trust the science' mantra, when that "science" is far from proven beyond reasonable doubt and has been shown to have more holes in it than the socks I currently have in my possession, only makes one more suspicious.

'In a Twitter exchange with the renowned US epidemiologist, Larry Brilliant, he accepted that natural immunity is a factor but said it was risky to rely on. For the vast majority of older people, that would seem true. For most younger folk, not so.'

Indeed, it's akin to the line from the Jim Carrey character in the classic comedy flick Dumb and Dumber, 'It's OK, I'm a limo driver.' At least he got his passenger to the airport unscathed, although — similar to this pandemic — with plenty of collateral damage along the way.

'So you're just a contrarian who doesn't want to be told what to do.' I'd be lying if I said this wasn't a factor but with good reason. It ties in with the above, our decision-makers' just-do-it-or-else approach, which not only fails to convince sceptics of the benefits of covid-19 vaccines for the entire population but also ensures a more entrenched position.

When one has been close to a highly contagious virus and suffered no adverse reaction, practically forcing said person to take an emergency-issued vaccine for 'one's own good and that of humanity at large', when the evidence that this is the case is questionable, to say the least, in what other way would any right-thinking individual respond than to refuse?

A not-so-'Brilliant' vaccine: data show that natural immunity may be better than the vaccine over time.

Surely public health bodies would serve humanity better by studying what exactly is at play in those of us who seem to have non-vaccine-acquired defences against covid-19.

Immune to rationality

Natural immunity — this shouldn't have to be stated but it appears many have to be reminded of it — is not an absurd concept. 

In a brief Twitter exchange a few months ago with the renowned US epidemiologist Larry Brilliant — a man who truly knows about tackling infections, unlike Bill Gates — he accepted that natural immunity is a factor but said it was risky to rely on.

For the vast majority of older people, that would seem true. For most younger folk, not so, as emerging data appear to show.  

With Colombia joining the list of countries that are effectively forcing the vaccine on people, the unvaccinated here are set to become social pariahs. One of the many worrying aspects of this is the number of so-called liberals all over the world who support such coercion.

It is understandable in some ways. The hypochondriacal masses have been bombarded with fear-inducing messages about the severity of covid-19 from governments and media for almost two years now. In such an environment disproportionate, irrational responses are not surprising.

I had hoped that as we see more breakthrough covid infections and data continue to show the limits of vaccine-acquired immunity, a realisation that some people already have what appear to be robust defences against this virus would be forthcoming. Alas, what we're getting is the opposite, doubling down on inoculation programmes.

One also has to wonder why there has been less of a focus on developing effective treatments when we've seen that the vaccine is far from a panacea.

It would seem to make sense to do so for a disease that's set to become endemic. Again, it just raises suspicions as to what forces are truly behind the mass-vaccination drive.

In this context, it's not quite a jab to save lives. It's more a case of 'get the jab or forget about living your life'. Don't ask questions, just do it.
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Coronavirus fallout: The virtue-signalling pandemic

There has been much comment in recent weeks about a coming great change in how we humans conduct our affairs once we get through this coronavirus chaos.

It's a belief that a return to the status quo before the virus crisis is practically impossible.

Colombia's tiendas are silent right now, but is there a brighter future ahead for all?

Our microscopic enemy is viewed as the necessary evil to make us alter our harmful ways. It's a comforting thought as many of us try to get through this uncertain and unsettling period. 

Maybe, just maybe, as Bill Gates advised a few years back, our leaders will focus more on ensuring we have healthcare systems that are better equipped to deal with crises like the one we're currently experiencing.

Health or wealth?

From a military perspective, many of the world's richest nations can, in the event of a threat, rely in double-quick time on very effective, ultra-modern attack and defence mechanisms. Yet, when it comes to the health of their citizens, they are found badly wanting.

It has certainly been eyebrow-raising to see how in these unprecedented times, basically at the mere clearing of one's throat (it wasn't a cough, honestly), trillions of dollars have been made available to help the most vulnerable in society when heretofore we were constantly being told the money simply wasn't there.

'There has been some nauseating taking of the moral high ground during this coronavirus crisis.'

On a broader scale, however, it would appear that many of those saying the world will never be the same again are the very ones whose lifestyles have been the most damaging to the planet and, by extension, human society. They are also the ones who, more than likely, will find it more difficult to change their ways.

The double-standard, do-gooder brigade you could call them.

Indeed, there's been an amount of virtue signalling during this time where anything up to a half of the world's population is in lockdown or quarantine.

'How come you've been out walking? Just stay at home, for goodness' sake. I haven't stepped outside the house for six days in a row.'

'Well done you. I hope you washed your hands well after having your food delivered by some random lad with perhaps questionable hygiene and/or social distancing standards.'

It's this nauseating taking of the moral high ground by some because they have been able not to leave their houses for days on end. 

The thing is, there's a fair chance that a number of those voluntarily (for in most countries, at the very least you're allowed out to get essential supplies) cocooning themselves at home for weeks isn't too far removed from their normal lives.

Not only can they work from home but they enjoy doing so. What's more, their house is their home, they feel entirely comfortable there.

Worthless

For others, and there are plenty of them here in Colombia, working from home is simply not an option. Also, their lodgings are just that, a place to sleep and perhaps cook, but were never envisaged as or equipped to be somewhere to spend the majority of their time.

You see, many of the strict temporary measures currently in force across the world have been taken by relatively well-off people in rather comfortable environments. They have little to no idea of what it's like to truly struggle.

'Without recalibrating our values we're set to continue where we left off.'

Those who do struggle to make ends meet — some temporary government support that's really only tokenism to get through the lockdown aside — are feeling it the most right now, and always have.

They don't have the luxury of trying to change their lives 'for the betterment of all on the planet' post this coronavirus crisis. It will be a case of trying to get back to mediocrity whenever the normal rhythm returns.

If our wealthier folk do really try to change their lives, cut out the excessive materialism, reduce overall consumption, then, in theory, there should be more resources to go around to improve the lot for the less well-off 80 per cent. A more balanced wealth distribution that is to say.

Yet, in a world where many in that 80 per cent bracket worship as gods outrageously paid young men kicking a ball of air around a field or an equally overpaid person who looks good on the big or small screen, it's hard to be too optimistic.

Without a significant recalibration of our values, we're set to carry on where we left off before coronavirus got under our collective skin.
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Facebook: Wrong Way Corrigan — The Blog & IQuiz "The Bogotá Pub Quiz".