Election Year or Fear!

[SithHappens]

Sweden did have a different approach by not insisting on lockdowns, however they did have measures andc restrictions in place. They went though largely for a guidance approach and to a degree that worked as the population demonstrated that it was able to follow guidance and adopt a common sense approach.

Imagine the UK adopting a common sense approach, would be utter chaos. I know plenty of people from my own circle of family and friends who thought the rules were optional, including a really close friend who thinks it was all some sort of conspiracy despite another of his close friends mum dying early on.

My niece lost her grandma to covid too, there was nothing tame about it. Yes to some covid is no worse than a cold, I worked everyday I had it, both times (at home), I was lucky despite being clinically extremely vulnerable, lots weren't.

[SithHappens]

On Starmer. I think it's impossible to say if he had been in charge it would have been worse or better. I think in general he was supportive of the governments approach, the only real difference I recall was him calling for a circuit breaker lockdown early autumn in that first year.

[ramAnag]

Yes to some covid is no worse than a cold, I worked everyday I had it, both times (at home), I was lucky despite being clinically extremely vulnerable, lots weren't.

Spot on, Sith…like flu, to some it’s nothing more than a bad cold…to others it’s a killer, and the whole point of all vaccines is to stop the spread. Unfortunately some are too selfish, lazy or consumed by conspiracy theory to recognise this.

[swaledale]

Hmmm…vaccines or no vaccines? BBC or GB News? Let’s think. Were you vaccinated?

Population density of Sweden…26 per square km.
Population density of UK…286 per square km. Great comparison!

As I've said many times RA, you can't argue with a sick mind. And judging from the US election result there are an awful lot of dumb people out there who would rather believe lies, misinformation and outright fake news pushed out by the willing patsies of billionaires and yet never seem to question why these billionaires are doing it?

Frankly if a person even admits to watching GB News (other than to establish its the home of disinformation) and then defends it, then their cognitive reasoning skills are clearly lacking. I mean even the majority of the people presenting on there don't believe what they are saying, its just a paid gig.

Its pointless debating with these people, they are cult followers, swallowing then parroting stuff they hear.

[MadAmster]

I'm one of those considered vulnerable due to heart issues, high BP, ditto cholesterol and sleep apnoea. I waited a long time before deciding to go down the vax route. I was trying to find data on any relationship between my medical condition and medicine routine to the Covid vax. Spent an awful lot of hours trawling all sorts of sites looking for info. Couldn't find any. Finally, I went to my GP thinking that he might have the info I was looking for, fully expecting him to recommend the vax. He was unable to provide the info I wanted and his opinion was that the info, almost definitely, did not exist. He went on to say that he wasn't going to advise me, one way or the other. He did, however, say that the ICUs were NOT full of the vaccinated but full of the unvaxed. 2 weeks later, after much thought I bit the bullet and, down the road, also had 4 boosters. I've not had Covid. Strangely, the only 2 people in my wider family, in both the UK and NL, who haven't had Covid are my 86 (87 in 4 weeks) year old Mother in Law, the oldest female in the family and my good self, the oldest male. The last of the rest to get it was my 78 year old sister in Law.

I took the chance on the vax despite understanding that it:
1. didn't work for everybody (just like every vax or medicine)
2. some would be allergic to it (just like every vax or medicine)
3. multiple boosters might be needed
4. there were some known side effects in the short term
5. possible mid and long term side effects were unknown as they wouldn't be known for several years

A risk? Absolutely but one I calculated a reasonable one to take. If we get another pandemic, I'll go through the same, well thought out process before coming to any decision. I have never had a go at anyone who decided they didn't think it a risk worth taking. In fact, I supported them online. I also got very verbal with eejits online who had a go at me for having had it.

As it's now been downgraded to the level of a cold, I won't be bothering with any more Covid vaxes unless a new dangerous strain evolves, which I don't expect.

Flu? Some 20 years ago, due to my heart issues, I was advised by my cardiologist to have the flu jab as a serious dose of the flu could prove fatal. I took the advice. I developed a cold the next day which morphed into flu, then bronchitis and ended up as double pneumonia. Took 6 months to get back to my fitness/health levels of the day before the flu jab. Not had a flu jab since and not had the flu either. Obviously, I won't be having a flu jab this winter either. In fact, my GP no longer bothers inviting me for the annual flu jab as they know I won't be going for it.

[ramAnag]

As I've said many times RA, you can't argue with a sick mind. And judging from the US election result there are an awful lot of dumb people out there who would rather believe lies, misinformation and outright fake news pushed out by the willing patsies of billionaires and yet never seem to question why these billionaires are doing it?

Frankly if a person even admits to watching GB News (other than to establish its the home of disinformation) and then defends it, then their cognitive reasoning skills are clearly lacking. I mean even the majority of the people presenting on there don't believe what they are saying, its just a paid gig.

Its pointless debating with these people, they are cult followers, swallowing then parroting stuff they hear.

I know…and I recognise there’s little point in arguing with ‘Capt. Yes, but, no, but GBeebies says…’, but you have to challenge nonsense sometimes don’t you? Otherwise you end up with mad men in charge.

[ramAnag]

I'm one of those considered vulnerable due to heart issues, high BP, ditto cholesterol and sleep apnoea. I waited a long time before deciding to go down the vax route. I was trying to find data on any relationship between my medical condition and medicine routine to the Covid vax. Spent an awful lot of hours trawling all sorts of sites looking for info. Couldn't find any. Finally, I went to my GP thinking that he might have the info I was looking for, fully expecting him to recommend the vax. He was unable to provide the info I wanted and his opinion was that the info, almost definitely, did not exist. He went on to say that he wasn't going to advise me, one way or the other. He did, however, say that the ICUs were NOT full of the vaccinated but full of the unvaxed. 2 weeks later, after much thought I bit the bullet and, down the road, also had 4 boosters. I've not had Covid. Strangely, the only 2 people in my wider family, in both the UK and NL, who haven't had Covid are my 86 (87 in 4 weeks) year old Mother in Law, the oldest female in the family and my good self, the oldest male. The last of the rest to get it was my 78 year old sister in Law.

I took the chance on the vax despite understanding that it:
1. didn't work for everybody (just like every vax or medicine)
2. some would be allergic to it (just like every vax or medicine)
3. multiple boosters might be needed
4. there were some known side effects in the short term
5. possible mid and long term side effects were unknown as they wouldn't be known for several years

A risk? Absolutely but one I calculated a reasonable one to take. If we get another pandemic, I'll go through the same, well thought out process before coming to any decision. I have never had a go at anyone who decided they didn't think it a risk worth taking. In fact, I supported them online. I also got very verbal with eejits online who had a go at me for having had it.

As it's now been downgraded to the level of a cold, I won't be bothering with any more Covid vaxes unless a new dangerous strain evolves, which I don't expect.

Flu? Some 20 years ago, due to my heart issues, I was advised by my cardiologist to have the flu jab as a serious dose of the flu could prove fatal. I took the advice. I developed a cold the next day which morphed into flu, then bronchitis and ended up as double pneumonia. Took 6 months to get back to my fitness/health levels of the day before the flu jab. Not had a flu jab since and not had the flu either. Obviously, I won't be having a flu jab this winter either. In fact, my GP no longer bothers inviting me for the annual flu jab as they know I won't be going for it.

It’s all very random, MA. My wife and I had our Covid and Flu vaccines together on the same day (left arm, flu…right arm Covid) about three weeks ago.
She woke up that night with a really bad head ache (very untypical) and had a painful arm for about a week afterwards. I had no side effects whatsoever.
Correspondingly, in the early days - coincidentally about the time Johnson resigned - I had Covid…took the precaution of moving bedrooms but nothing more and while I tested positive for over a week she remained completely Covid free.
Overall though I remain convinced that vaccinations are an overwhelmingly good thing which stop the spread of all sorts of once serious infections and that, unless you’ve possibly had the type of reaction you speak of, people should have them.

P.S. Given the events of this week, perhaps we should all be investing in disinfectant and syringes.
P.P.S. COYR.

[Andy_Faber]

I'm one of those considered vulnerable due to heart issues, high BP, ditto cholesterol and sleep apnoea. I waited a long time before deciding to go down the vax route. I was trying to find data on any relationship between my medical condition and medicine routine to the Covid vax. Spent an awful lot of hours trawling all sorts of sites looking for info. Couldn't find any. Finally, I went to my GP thinking that he might have the info I was looking for, fully expecting him to recommend the vax. He was unable to provide the info I wanted and his opinion was that the info, almost definitely, did not exist. He went on to say that he wasn't going to advise me, one way or the other. He did, however, say that the ICUs were NOT full of the vaccinated but full of the unvaxed. 2 weeks later, after much thought I bit the bullet and, down the road, also had 4 boosters. I've not had Covid. Strangely, the only 2 people in my wider family, in both the UK and NL, who haven't had Covid are my 86 (87 in 4 weeks) year old Mother in Law, the oldest female in the family and my good self, the oldest male. The last of the rest to get it was my 78 year old sister in Law.

I took the chance on the vax despite understanding that it:
1. didn't work for everybody (just like every vax or medicine)
2. some would be allergic to it (just like every vax or medicine)
3. multiple boosters might be needed
4. there were some known side effects in the short term
5. possible mid and long term side effects were unknown as they wouldn't be known for several years

A risk? Absolutely but one I calculated a reasonable one to take. If we get another pandemic, I'll go through the same, well thought out process before coming to any decision. I have never had a go at anyone who decided they didn't think it a risk worth taking. In fact, I supported them online. I also got very verbal with eejits online who had a go at me for having had it.

As it's now been downgraded to the level of a cold, I won't be bothering with any more Covid vaxes unless a new dangerous strain evolves, which I don't expect.

Flu? Some 20 years ago, due to my heart issues, I was advised by my cardiologist to have the flu jab as a serious dose of the flu could prove fatal. I took the advice. I developed a cold the next day which morphed into flu, then bronchitis and ended up as double pneumonia. Took 6 months to get back to my fitness/health levels of the day before the flu jab. Not had a flu jab since and not had the flu either. Obviously, I won't be having a flu jab this winter either. In fact, my GP no longer bothers inviting me for the annual flu jab as they know I won't be going for it.

I recall that your story from back on the Covid thread. I have similar health issues (plus not being so fit) and went down the ‘get it asap’ route, likewise flu, but respect/ understand your rationale. I’m in the fortunate position that every pill, potion or puncture that I’ve ever taken has done as promised, which sways my decision making somewhat

[MadAmster]

It’s all very random, MA. My wife and I had our Covid and Flu vaccines together on the same day (left arm, flu…right arm Covid) about three weeks ago.
She woke up that night with a really bad head ache (very untypical) and had a painful arm for about a week afterwards. I had no side effects whatsoever.
Correspondingly, in the early days - coincidentally about the time Johnson resigned - I had Covid…took the precaution of moving bedrooms but nothing more and while I tested positive for over a week she remained completely Covid free.
Overall though I remain convinced that vaccinations are an overwhelmingly good thing which stop the spread of all sorts of once serious infections and that, unless you’ve possibly had the type of reaction you speak of, people should have them.

P.S. Given the events of this week, perhaps we should all be investing in disinfectant and syringes.
P.P.S. COYR.

'er indoors has had it twice. I hit the guest's bedroom for a few days. Once she tested negative, I returned to the matrimonial bed.

What worries me the most is that many young parents are now deciding not to have their offspring vaccinated at all. Measles etc are back on the rise. We are seeing cases of polio again. Tried and tested vaxes are, we know, not 100% safe and they don't "take" on everybody. However, there's less chance of issues if kids get vaccinated than if they don't. For the sake of those parents who have decided not to have their kids vaxed, I hope there's no cause for them to rue that decision but it's a guarantee there will be those wondering why their kid has developed polio, hopefully, not to the extent they need an iron lung.

[SithHappens]

I'd be interested in knowing how many people who were anti Vax, citing the risks (which I don't think the media helped with), but would happily encourage their girlfriend or wife to take the contraceptive pill? The risk of complications taking the pill are similar to that of vaccines.