I participated in the first clinical trial of the Salk Polio Vaccine. I don't think I ever found out whether I got the real deal or a placebo, but I didn't get polio.
The mRNA vaccines (which are new) have been created and released in warp speed because they have been working on the methodology for nearly 20 years in the lab. The timing of COVID was fortuitous, allowing the vaccines to be introduced quickly. At this point they seem to be some of the most effective vaccines ever made.
The standard "flu shot" is a bit of a crap shoot after they spin to roulette wheel to pick which one to recommend. With mRNA the vaccine is much more specific for the target disease. It's not 100%, but very little in medicine is. I had no hesitation to get Pfizered. My risk is reduced for both getting the disease, getting hospitalized and getting buried.
I wore a mask in the operating room for thirty years. Not sure how effective they were, but they did keep my saliva out the wound. My glasses fell into a belly once though. I believe the mask mania has been excessive. I have played golf daily (almost) for the last year without a mask. The better safe than sorry argument is a bit difficult to defend regarding masks. The anti-vaxxers are on thin ice as well in my opinion.
I suspect that the risk of law suits has something to do with businesses being more than willing to be compliant with government recommendations. I do comply as well when I go to the post office and grocery store though. I did go to an upscale restaurant recently and was called out for removing my mask before I was seated. We were able to eat without masks, even between bites.
If you scare folks consistently they ultimately will accept fear as their modus operandi. Messaging during the COVID era has been remarkably poor, which is most unfortunate. Give me the information without the politics and garbage and let me
freely choose how much risk I'm willing to take.
When HIV hit in the eighties, as a surgeon, I felt more endangered personally in the operating room working on HIV patients than I do now regarding COVID.
I have not read this thread, so if this is all redundant, I apologize.
I am a retired board certified general surgeon, not that that matters.
The cards i have listed in BST come from a COVID free home.
