Let’s put an end to the silly notion about herd immunity in the US - if you are fearful of variants. Assume for a moment that every living American got the vaccine. Then the virus has mutates in some other country. It only took one person entering the US with Covid to start the spread. Our borders are WIDE open. If there is a new strain, it will make it into the US. If the vaccine isn’t effective against the new strain... Herd immunity is over.
If the vaccine works against the new strain, the those who currently choose not to receive the vaccine would not impact those who have been vaccinated.

What risks are you referring to? You keep posting that there are virtually no risks in getting the vaccine.
And getting a shot because you believe that is what is best for you, doesn’t make you brave...

It really does. It is surprising to me that there are many people not getting vaccinated because they fear doctors AND shots. I don't like shots and needles. I was hospitalized in the last two years where I had 27 needles in one week. The largest and scariest was inserted into my chest to reinflate my right lung. I was scared but I didn't yell. I had my sweet husband and daughter holding my hand for support.

I have a LOT of trust for the traditional medical community and very little for alternative medicine. Our daughter has had many stays and me staying with her around the clock, in her life because of congenital heart issues. Not all medical facilities are equal, some are better than others with teaching hospitals being the best. I believe we can trust the CDC and the NIH.

Most people who work with very sick people day in and day out are so close to being saints in my book. I stand in awe, really almost worship.

I never said there are no risks to being vaccinated. That would be foolish to profess that. What I have continued to say is the benefit outweighed the risks for me. I also feel very special for doing my part for our country to achieve SAFE herd immunity. That goes for everyone who has been vaccinated.

Yes there are risks. As I keep hearing from the folks who are reluctant to vaccinate, "What about future side effects?" "We anti-vaxxers just may be correct and all you vaxxers will have horrible side effects or worse". Yes, there is a risk.

That is why I truly believe every person who has been vaccinated is very brave to have done so. Those who participated in the initial trials are not only brave but they are our heroes and I thank every one of those brave people.

You are currently participating in the trial. So I guess you are both brave and a hero...

Yes! finally an accurate statement ......" the CV will probably NEVER disappear". Good work! Now ask, "whose fault will that be"?

LOL.....Notice I referred to "initial trials" in my post you are responding to. Yes, I'm very aware the millions of people who have been vaccinated, myself included, are part of a continuing trial. I've been told that so many times on this forum, I'm beginning to believe it. You know how THAT works, don't ya?

Anti vaccine
 

It’s really none of your business. Some people have good reasons.

It DOES protect the vaccinated person. That was covered here in this forum over and over. The vaccinated person is 100% GUARANTEED to NOT die or end up in a hospital! Stop regressing!

To clarify, the mothers did not obtain the drug illegally, it was prescribed to them by a physician. It was the pharmaceutical companies that distributed the medication to physicians for unauthorized "trials".

True Story of Thalidomide in the US | US Thalidomide Survivors

Settle down there partner, geeze, you're gonna give yourself the big one getting so riled over nothing. Now then, why do so many care if their pickleball partner isn't vaccinated when they are themselves vaccinated? In order to understand why I might have asked that, you need to read the message string, I was responding to the concerns of other posters. I agree w you, the vaccinated one has the protection w or wo compliance from their pickleball partner.

Hi Coffee, with all due respect, in my opinion:

...refusing (or undecided about) getting get an experimental unapproved vaccine whose long term consequences are currently being studied for possible significant adverse reaction is not a lack of bravery.

...refusing (or undecided about) about getting vaccinated when the unvaccinated, if infected, have an 80-90% of no or mild symptoms and the vaccine confers only a 5% upgrade in those chances, against a backdrop of an experimental unapproved vaccine whose long term consequences are currently being studied for possible significant adverse reaction is not a lack of bravery.

As an "undecided" I do struggle with the possibility that the anti-vaxxers might be hindering herd immunity. That's why I started this thread, and I appreciate all the thoughtful responses (this is soooo much better than Facebook!).

I'm trying to come up with an analogy about choosing not to walk headlong into a situation that can kill you. OBB's "Russian Roulette" is the closest to that mark. Maybe someone can come up with something.

If one makes a measured, rational choice not to be exposed to something potentially deadly, even if it hinders herd immunity, that person is choosing to protect him or herself from death or severe illness - the risk of which appears to be greater than infection with Covid. Further, Covid is projected to die out, as viruses do, after it runs its course of two to three years, with or without mass vaccination. So how is all this a lack of bravery? It seems quite sensible to me, but maybe I'm biased.

And as for the "selfish" tag - same line of thought. Is it really selfish to choose not to run headlong into something that can kill or cause severe illness? Isn't that what all of us have been choosing for at least the last year?

How about if undecideds just want to wait until the vaccines receive full FDA approval? Are they still the scum of the earth?

Got it. That does clarify. So you're saying people who got the vaccines knowing there could be "horrible side effects or worse" are brave because they knew about that serious and real potential threat and opted to get jabbed anyway.

If something is "BEST" then it IS "ELITE" !

Way to go! You are a good "KISS"er!!!!!!!!!!