I'd love to say it was after extensive research but it wasn't - I'm a software engineer not a doctor - in this instance I trust the expert consensus.
I understand somewhat the viewpoint of "it's an unknown risk vs a somewhat known risk" but really the crux of the matter for me was "what would be the benefit of lying to anyone?"
I don't know, and I weight the odds and wage a bet given the various sources of information I have and my knowledge of human nature.
Unlike most of my vaccine enthusiast friends, I don't blame people that want to avoid it, I get the sentiment.
I'm not thrilled at the idea of getting the shot despite being a strong vaccine proponent, but I have made the appointment. Maybe it will turn out to be the wrong decision, however I took it with the best of my knowledge and abilities. And that's all what we can do.
I already thought about this and I fully agree! But I feel rather anonymous on this global message board.
I tell all my friends who asked for my opinion to just do what they please and lied to them that yes, I am registered for my shot. Which I am not and won't be, unless my employment or personal comfort are threatened too much.
I am also happy my elderly parents took the vaccine. A covid infection is probably more dangerous to them than the vaccine and now I can visit them without testing with a clear conscience.
As a medical researcher, I received my first Moderna vaccine dose yesterday. I feel incredibly lucky, but also, a tiny bit guilty. I have very minimal patient contact, and I could not help but wonder if by taking the vaccine, I was depriving someone more needy of the vaccine. In the end, I decided that due to inevitable bureaucratic/managerial inefficiencies, any action I take would not materially affect when non-hospital employees begin to get vaccinated, and that by getting vaccinated could potentially prevent me from spreading the virus in the future. Who knows whether I made the most ethical choice, but at least, I tell myself, I considered the question.
edit: I would add that telling friends and family that I got vaccinated actually uplifted their spirits: It seemed to give them hope that this would all end. Its different when people you know get it, versus hearing about it on the news.
I reviewed the available data on both the vaccine and the disease and decided that given my children’s medical history and my family’s medical circumstances, the risk/benefit calculus was firmly on the side of vaccination.
So after initially saying there's no way I'd take a vaccine that has been rushed to market I'm now thinking that, as a middle aged male with no kids, I sort of have a duty to take the risk. I suppose the vaccines will go to higher risk groups and front line medical staff first, but once they're available I'm signing up.
If you can prove me mathematically that I am better off with the vaccine I will take it. Seriously. I believe I have sufficient background in math and I am willing to pick up extra if needed.
I could give you background info on me (age, health, covid status etc) but you said you could prove it for all possible hn commenters so I'd keep my privacy.
It was a toss up. Some reasons why I went the way I did:
1) I am of an age where risk/reward ratio is clearer. It still isn't so compelling that I rushed to do it, but far better than for college kids.
2) I was (and remain) concerned that the dark-blue city where I live is going to mandate them to participate in normal life. I find this loathsome, but I am not in a position to fight it.
3) It gives me a certain authority when I tell people that I don't believe in vaccine mandates or many of our policies, yet I am 100% compliant with the rules.
4) I thought maybe it would keep me from catching a cold.
Alas, because the universe tends toward maximum irony, a week after the booster I caught Omicron.
So, at first you claimed you didn't want to get the vaccine because a friend got it and still got sick. Now you claimed your uncle died from it and your sister's husband got serious sick from it. I wonder why you didn't mention that at first to make your point, instead of using the much less serious case about your friend. Make me skeptical about everything you said.
What case is there to refuse a vaccine that is likely to add significantly more protection to the individual and community while remaining extremely unlikely to cause “other problems “?
It’s important to distinguish events that are likely from those which are unlikely. Otherwise you may mislead someone.
I never said I rushed to get the vaccine. I had been infected twice in the first few waves so I knew I was immune. I just got the vaccine because I knew it was safe and it would give me a boost against the oncoming future waves of infection since it was also clear that there would not be enough vaccine uptake for herd immunity and I wanted to hedge my bets and make sure I was immune to whatever variant the vaccine was designed for.
I'd love to say it was after extensive research but it wasn't - I'm a software engineer not a doctor - in this instance I trust the expert consensus.
I understand somewhat the viewpoint of "it's an unknown risk vs a somewhat known risk" but really the crux of the matter for me was "what would be the benefit of lying to anyone?"
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