Will you get vaccinated against COVID once it's available?

[irv]

https://www.facebook.com/DrScottJens...01897574991145

[packs]

Does the meritocracy healthcare system apply to everyone equally? Professional sports careers will be short. Every football player knows the risks of the game. Broken legs will equal certain death and well earned I guess if they knew what could happen.

[jgannon]

The problem with the "absence of responsibility" argument of course is that the vaccines didn't go through the normal trials and protocols. You can't blame someone for being cautious about the vaccines which thus far have only been authorized for emergency use and haven't been fully approved. The track record of the lawsuit-ridden pharmaceutical industry is also a concern, given their history of often approving the drug first, and asking questions later.

Further, denying somebody care if they didn't get a colonoscopy is an arrogant and socioeconomically myopic thing to say. Many people simply CAN'T AFFORD health insurance. And they're not driving around in gold Cadillacs. Millions of people lost their jobs and their health insurance due to the pandemic. And there were already millions who didn't have health insurance before it - who were working full time, often at more than one job.

The vaccines might be the greatest thing since sliced bread. But for the time being, I understand and respect people not wanting to get one. I also understand and respect people willing to get one. It's a personal decision at this point.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by jgannon

It's a personal decision at this point.

If we are the owners of our bodies then yes. If the government owns our bodies then no. Simple as that.

[MooseDog]

With all due respect the "...can't afford health insurance" argument doesn't hold water any more.

I can only speak for myself, but as a self-employed/independent contractor I couldn't afford health insurance until the ACA (aka ObamaCare) came along. The ACA has literally been a life saver and my premiums have gone up and down as my income has fluctuated wildly, but was always affordable with a manageable deductible and was never tied to any particular work or job I did.

Anyone who doesn't have a job or health insurance at the moment can probably get nearly fully subsidized health insurance until their situation changes. For example my premium was dropped to $1/month when I was fully unemployed for a bit.

If anything, this is an example of why we shouldn't have to tie health insurance to jobs.

Originally Posted by jgannon

Many people simply CAN'T AFFORD health insurance. And they're not driving around in gold Cadillacs. Millions of people lost their jobs and their health insurance due to the pandemic. And there were already millions who didn't have health insurance before it - who were working full time, often at more than one job.

[jgannon]

Originally Posted by MooseDog

With all due respect the "...can't afford health insurance" argument doesn't hold water any more.

I can only speak for myself, but as a self-employed/independent contractor I couldn't afford health insurance until the ACA (aka ObamaCare) came along. The ACA has literally been a life saver and my premiums have gone up and down as my income has fluctuated wildly, but was always affordable with a manageable deductible and was never tied to any particular work or job I did.

Anyone who doesn't have a job or health insurance at the moment can probably get nearly fully subsidized health insurance until their situation changes. For example my premium was dropped to $1/month when I was fully unemployed for a bit.

If anything, this is an example of why we shouldn't have to tie health insurance to jobs.

There are all too many instances of people who have healthcare who can't afford their medicines and treatments, and copays. So even if you have healthcare, it doesn't guarantee adequate coverage.

I'm glad the ACA worked for you. But as you said, you are speaking for yourself. Your situation is not everybody's.

[packs]

I often find the issues with these discussions is that people on the board don’t know many other people who aren’t like themselves socioeconomically. There is this assumption everyone is on equal footing. If you think the issue with healthcare is that too many people get it, try talking to someone who doesn’t have it. If you think healthcare is so cheap it’s crazy not to have it, talk to someone who doesn’t qualify like you do. That’s the only way to understand the lives of others.

[MooseDog]

But that's the point of the ACA. Just about everybody can qualify. I have a very good friend who would qualify for a $1/mo subsidized plan, but he chooses to go uninsured because he's been indoctrinated to believe ObamaCare = bad.

Originally Posted by packs

I often find the issues with these discussions is that people on the board don’t know many other people who aren’t like themselves socioeconomically. There is this assumption everyone is on equal footing. If you think the issue with healthcare is that too many people get it, try talking to someone who doesn’t have it. If you think healthcare is so cheap it’s crazy not to have it, talk to someone who doesn’t qualify like you do. That’s the only way to understand the lives of others isn’t it?