Infection_Ag11 said:
I disagree with much of what has been implemented in many states and at the national level since last May or so. And the mask debate is effectively a moot point because far too small a percentage of the public wears them correctly to actually assess efficacy.
For example, the claim that we don't know whether the vaccines decrease asymptomatic transmission is just not true. We know from international studies, most notably those in Israel and South Korea, that it dramatically decreases such transmission. And unless we assume this virus behaves distinctly differently from essentially every other RNA virus we've ever discovered, we already knew that would be the case.
Probably my biggest gripe overall has been this sort of intentionally obtuse mindset from many in the scientific community whereby we grant this virus magical powers that make it wholly unique among RNA respiratory viruses. There's just never been any evidence at any point along the way that the response to natural infection or vaccine would be unpredictable or different than to other similar viruses.
This right here is what's made me want to pull my hair out, especially the last few months since the vaccine was released.
I'm not a doctor, but I am an engineer with working knowledge of microbiology and biochemistry.
As an engineer, I live and die, not by the "science" but by the DATA - specifically the trends in the data (and NOT the outliers).
I understand doctors who treat individual patients being hesitant to use aggregate data. However, doctors and disease specialists who work in public policy have an obligation to look and the data and interpret it in a way that best benefits society as a whole.
I'm so disappointed and frustrated by the extreme narrative that's been pushed under the guise of "if it saves just one life..."
I definitely can see the light at the end of the tunnel with this virus, but I am afraid that the medical community and various government officials have set a very bad precedent for how we handle future situations similar to this.
And after that ridiculous press conference yesterday, I have lost all faith in the CDC. Prior to this, I often gave deference/the benefit of the doubt to doctors and researchers. I have a PhD, so I know what it takes to become an objective expert in your field. Sadly, over the last year, I have begun to question the motives of many people we call "experts" and "professionals".