I agree with you 100%, but you are referencing the impact of the initial strains of novel viruses. The Spanish influenza did not mutate after 1918 and morph into a more deadly strain; it was the alpha strain that decimated millions.
Similarly, AIDS (which is not a virus, of course, but merely an expression of symptoms caused by HIV) has not morphed into a deadlier strain. In fact, the AIDS epidemic never became a pandemic.
Vaccines are definitely useful, but NOT if they don’t significantly prevent infection. This is really the greatest challenge we face now. Never in history have we attempted to conquer an epidemic — be it measles, polio, or smallpox — with a “leaky” vaccine that allows so many vaccinated to continue to carry and spread the virus. We never would have ended past epidemics with a “leaky” vaccine. When 70% of the population was vaccinated for polio, cases did not increase year-over-year the way they are now. Shockingly, nearly 75% of my acquaintances who are double vaxxed or boosted have been infected; the remaining 25% basically refuse to leave their homes. So that is the one caveat I will add to this analysis.
Lastly, science has now confirmed that natural immunity is superior to vaccination, as has been the case with any virus.
Naturally acquired immunity is what allowed us to acquire herd immunity, develop a resistance to subsequent strains, and conquer the Spanish influenza.
It remains to be seen if and to what extent more lethal strains of COVID-19 will develop among a largely vaccination population with subpar immunity. That is the only wild card here.
So far, Omicron has proven to be extremely mild. We knew this at the outset, of course, but politicians were anxious to exaggerate its severity.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/coronavirus/omicron-pioneer-dr-angelique-coetzee-pressured-by-world-powers-to-exaggerate-its-seriousness/news-story/32db855f5e9c8b1fdf9dc8eab770f34a?amp&nk=59e5e0dfbe48308ffa3d6c53c40f1cce-1644382733
Umair argues that leaders are politicizing this crisis now. He ignores the fact that this virus has been politicized from the very beginning — by the same people who are politicizing it now. These political leopards haven’t changed their spots; they’re behaving as they always have. It’s simply more obvious now.
