I have a friend who is anti mRNA vaccines as they are so new.

Are they?

  • Bernie Ecclestoned@sh.itjust.worksOP
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    11 months ago

    Ok just going to make the counter argument if that’s ok?

    They are new compared to traditional vaccines like polio and smallpox

    Their view is that vaccines are now unnecessary because of herd immunity, (I’ve got them to concede that hospitals or the economy would have collapsed without vaccines), and that they are just being used up because govts signed contracts.

    Their view is that the side effects risk is now higher than the benefit.

    • alvvayson@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      So how many years does it take to no longer be new?

      The Polio vaccines are also new compared to the Smallpox vaccines.

      But that doesn’t mean we don’t have sufficient data on their safety and effectiveness. And we have comparable levels of data on the mRNA covid vaccines.

        • SandLight@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          Herd immunity only works if the herd is immune. If only a portion of the herd is immune, the rest of the herd will spread disease.

          It requires a critical mass to work, and it protects those who can not get the vaccine for medical reasons (like allergic reactions, etc.)

          • Nollij@sopuli.xyz
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            11 months ago

            It also only works if the herd remains immune. We are now seeing a return of diseases that had previously been eliminated (not eradicated), due to a decline in vaccinations. Examples include measles and whooping cough.

        • alvvayson@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          It’s basically the flu vaccine in my opinion.

          People at risk stand to beneffit most, but it doesn’t need to be mandated .