So strange that people are catching covid even after being vaccinated or had the booster.

We were all told "get the vaccine and you won't catch covid"

I guess if the penny hasn't dropped yet after your 10th-15th booster I don't think it ever will.

I have long thought this persistent blanket dismissal of face masks as an effective protection against Covid to be unwise, as it seems counterintuitive.

Whilst it’s obviously true that simple masks cannot filter out every airborne virus and that other measures, like hand washing and not touching your face are also important, it seems obvious that any kind of barrier will lower both infection and transmission.

If the level of viral load is reduced then the ability of our immune system to cope must be enhanced. It won’t stop every viral particle but stop enough to make a difference.

It’s no different to wearing a seat belt. You can still get killed wearing one, but wearing one improves your chances.

Various studies seem to support this:-

[Link]

[Link]

There are many more.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

No one is suggesting that simple masks stop transmission. That wasn’t ever the point of them being recommended.

What is not just being suggested, but is supported by evidence from studies, is that they reduce the level of viral load sufficiently to make a worthwhile difference. When you are trying to manage a pandemic and ensure that your health services don’t collapse that’s not just important. It’s vital.

Emphasising the other requirements, of maintaining distance, washing hands and not touching your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth remains part of an overall strategy. Remember, “Hands, face, space”?

What’s also vital, when we all face a crisis, is that we all follow the prevention strategies and that no one ignores them because of their own reasoning or personal prejudices. Medical exemptions being different considerations. It’s not for individuals to determine national strategies or impose their definitions of what they consider the harsh realities of life on others. Especially when the actual evidence shows these to be wrong.

Regrettable though it may be issuing obligatory rules in such a crisis then becomes necessary, despite the objections. So even with hindsight it looks as though the advice of the WHO and our own public health experts was spot on.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

I would like to see where and when the government announced that 'that simple masks' didn't stop transmission.

From my memory the decision was obviously made not to say that in public announcements and to make the entry of people into normal life mask required, 'simple' or not. As stated they wanted surgical resources for front line staff as they should.

There is no evidence that cloth masks made any difference to transmission and the statistics from when masks were required show no slowing down of transmission at all.

While front line staff would have had marginally better masks, the reality of dealing with infectious and/or sick people meant viral load would have ensured they caught it anyway.

The 'mask up' message to the public was a tool of social coercion and nothing else. It was the state lying to its people. Any attempt to spin it otherwise is a continuation of those lies.

Edited by Stirlingsays (09 Jun 2024 2.32pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Vaccines against Flu/Covid offer a reduction in symptoms/recovery time. They protect against the strains present in the vaccine.

As an example, the flu vaccine will contain all known strains at the time of production. Typically from the Australian winter. It will not stop you from getting a new strain or becoming ill from that. If its closely related to a strain that is in the vaccine it will help reduce symptoms and recovery time.

This type of virus will constantly mutate to aid its transmission.

Are you suggesting that we should not bother with the flu vaccine?

There seems to be a great deal of Karen on facebook says in this thread.

My point was we were all told "get the vaccine and you won't catch covid" we were also told that it's "safe and effective". Many people were coerced into getting it for many reasons such as loosing their job, not being able to travel or to see loved ones.

In regards to the flu vaccine you mentioned. My stance is the same as the covid vaccine. Get it if you want or if you feel the need to get it. Don't force others to get it if they don't want to. I would never tell someone to get it or not to get it.

I have family members who get the flu vaccine but have not had the covid one. And vice versa.

I for one have never had it nor needed it.

Edited by eaglesdare (09 Jun 2024 9.45pm)