yukbon
Well-Known Member
The Year We Battled Covid, Revisited
In “The Plague Year,” Lawrence Wright tells the story of the pandemic that upended all of our lives — both the failures to combat it, and the science that saved us.
Neverending Covid-19 Coronavirus
- Thread starter RenegadeMonster
- Start date
Chucktshoes
Well-Known Member
Pretty good article from Bret Weinstein on why the lab leak theory should be the desired origin.
Why we should welcome the lab leak hypothesis - UnHerd
Why we should welcome the lab leak hypothesis - UnHerd
Turbo
Well-Known Member
To be honest, I think measures should be taken to secure for both possibilities. Gain-of-function studies are essential but they must be done intelligently and securely. I don't want to go into specifics as to why they are necessary, but I also think that standards should be put in place and that ethics review boards should exist just like they do for the approval of animal testing (maybe they do in certain countries already, mind you).
If this came out of WIV, they fucked the whole world not because the accident occurred but because they didn't acknowledge it and take the proper steps to contain it early, whoever "they" is (government, prideful scientist). There would be so much parallels to the early days of "Chernobyl" if this is the case.
But we must also understand that the encroachment of urban areas into nature (bushmeat, sprawl, even farming practices) can also lead to zoonoses and not just in Asia but in the west as well. There is a lot of reckoning here, regardless of the cause.
If this came out of WIV, they fucked the whole world not because the accident occurred but because they didn't acknowledge it and take the proper steps to contain it early, whoever "they" is (government, prideful scientist). There would be so much parallels to the early days of "Chernobyl" if this is the case.
But we must also understand that the encroachment of urban areas into nature (bushmeat, sprawl, even farming practices) can also lead to zoonoses and not just in Asia but in the west as well. There is a lot of reckoning here, regardless of the cause.
I pretty much figured the argument was that it's a good thing if this is an enhanced superbug because if it were to be from nature, then there will be many more to follow as we continue to encroach on natural habitats. I do like this point the article makes:
The most important lesson is actually not about pathogens and pandemics at all, though it is about evolution of a sort. Science is an astonishing process that is capable of liberating us and making us both wiser and safer. But wisdom and safety are not guaranteed. Everything about the conduct of science depends on the incentives around it; if we want wisdom, insight and safety, then those are the values that must be rewarded in our scientific establishment.
But as it stands, science is plagued by a system of perverse incentives in which scientists are condemned to constantly compete for jobs and grant money just to stay in the game. The repercussions of this have been clear for decades, as scientists exaggerate, distort and mislead in order to get their own work (or their field’s work) funded.
And because there is a risk of another coronavirus that could be worse, I agree that we should look into the origins. However, I do not believe that the Chinese government will ever give the international community the sort of access they would need to prove this one way or another. So the question then becomes, what do we do, given our need for China's manufacturing? Do we continue to try to hold the Chinese government accountable at the expense of trade relations? While I know what I would do, my thinking is that our elected officials will not want to jeopardize our trade with China, so regardless of whether or not it originated from a lab in Wuhan, I don't think any of our politicians will do anything to move this inquiry farther.
This is depressing, but all too obvious. We have a predatory system that rewards surprise billers and pharma bros. How did we think this wouldn't happen?:
Though Congress passed legislation mandating that Covid-19 vaccines be free at the point of use for all U.S. residents, around one-third of unvaccinated people cited fear of cost as a significant reason they’ve yet to get the jab. Even worse, it’s a barrier for people who seem to genuinely want it: a full 45 percent of those stipulating that they hope to get it “as soon as possible,” compared to only 19 percent of those resolutely opposed.
Per a follow-up report in The New York Times, this phenomenon isn’t solely ascribable to ignorance about the mandate against cost-sharing. Apparently, many people do know that the jabs are supposed to be free. They just don’t believe it. As one still unvaccinated 42-year-old put it, “This is America—your health care is not free.… I just feel like that is how the vaccination process is going to go. They’re going to try to capitalize on it.”
newrepublic.com
Though Congress passed legislation mandating that Covid-19 vaccines be free at the point of use for all U.S. residents, around one-third of unvaccinated people cited fear of cost as a significant reason they’ve yet to get the jab. Even worse, it’s a barrier for people who seem to genuinely want it: a full 45 percent of those stipulating that they hope to get it “as soon as possible,” compared to only 19 percent of those resolutely opposed.
Per a follow-up report in The New York Times, this phenomenon isn’t solely ascribable to ignorance about the mandate against cost-sharing. Apparently, many people do know that the jabs are supposed to be free. They just don’t believe it. As one still unvaccinated 42-year-old put it, “This is America—your health care is not free.… I just feel like that is how the vaccination process is going to go. They’re going to try to capitalize on it.”
Many More Americans Would Be Vaccinated if Our Health Care System Wasn’t So Terrifying
People don’t trust an industry known for bureaucratic traps and surprise billing to save them from the pandemic.
newrepublic.com
Dtknuckles
Well-Known Member
As someone who makes and receives these requests often, you are right.
It's looking like Biden's goal of all 50 states reaching at least 70% of their population receiving at least the first dose of the vaccine will fail.
To date, only 13 states have reached this goal. And the rate that other states are reaching it are stalling. There is just too much hesitancy and people making this a political matter.
To date, only 13 states have reached this goal. And the rate that other states are reaching it are stalling. There is just too much hesitancy and people making this a political matter.
Jan
Well-Known Member
Frankly, instead of putting too much effort of getting the vaccination-hesitant parts of the population in the western countries vaccinated, I think everybody is helped more by putting theses efforts into getting the vaccines to willing people in countries in africa, asia or south - and middle america that don’t have access to enough vaccines right now. In fighting the global pandemic that would get us more bang for the buck
I just linked to an article above, there is a large group of Americans who are hesitant because of cost. While they understand that the vaccine is supposed to be free, they don't really believe our health system won't try to charge them for something. This is the hesitancy a full one third of unvaccinated people in the US face; the hesitancy to engage with a system that regularly surprise bills and price gouges users.
debianlinux
Well-Known Member
I had read that as 1/3 of the unvaccinated were hesitant over potential costs not 1.3 of the entire population.
corrected
It looks like despite the shot being free, there are costs / bills associated with it.
I was just reading about how when someone got their shot they asked for insurance. He had asked why do you need my insurance, the shots supposed to be free. They replied with "Administrative Fees".
And sure enough, there were administrative fees that showed up on their EBO. Though covered by their insurance 100%. The shot it self was billed for $0.01.
But what happens when someone doesn't have insurance>
I was just reading about how when someone got their shot they asked for insurance. He had asked why do you need my insurance, the shots supposed to be free. They replied with "Administrative Fees".
And sure enough, there were administrative fees that showed up on their EBO. Though covered by their insurance 100%. The shot it self was billed for $0.01.
But what happens when someone doesn't have insurance>
Chucktshoes
Well-Known Member
I don’t bother getting the shot.
Max Sterling
Well-Known Member
I think we covered this in here a while back. You can't be denied the shot if you don't have insurance, they just eat the fees. It's just to help out with administrative costs.
From the CDC's Website:
The federal government is providing the vaccine free of charge to all people living in the United States, regardless of their immigration or health insurance status.
COVID-19 vaccination providers cannot:
- Charge you for the vaccine
- Charge you directly for any administration fees, copays, coinsurance, or the balance of the bill after appropriate reimbursement
- Deny vaccination to anyone who does not have health insurance coverage, is underinsured, or is out of network
- Charge an office visit or other fee to the recipient if the only service provided is a COVID-19 vaccination
- Require additional services in order for a person to receive a COVID-19 vaccine; however, additional healthcare services can be provided at the same time and billed as appropriate
- Seek appropriate reimbursement from the recipient’s plan or program (for example, private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid) for a vaccine administration fee
- Seek reimbursement for uninsured vaccine recipients from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s COVID-19 Uninsured Programexternal icon
^^^Exactly!!
They don't get the shot.
And despite this in clear language on the CDC's website, people still do not trust that:
1. They will really not be charged by our for profit medical system
2. They don't believe anything the government says, especially the CDC given their information snafus over the past year.
I'm also curious if those without insurance are hesitant to try to make an appointment for a vaccine since most hospital systems ask people for their insurance information prior to scheduling an appointment. I get it that people that are uninsured can go to a pharmacy where there is minimal paperwork and hassle, but I wonder how many people are put off because they do not think that a health system will give them an appointment based on their insurance status.
Chucktshoes
Well-Known Member
So, funnily enough I stopped for lunch at a truck stop in Raphine, Virginia and they had a vax clinic going on. I just got the J&J vaccine. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
RIP Royal Caribbean.
I don't know about most others, but I'm not getting on a cruise ship that doesn't require people to be vaccinated. Those ships are an outbreak waiting to happen.
Edit: Actually, it doesn't appear to be entirely Royal Caribbean's fault. This is more of let's blame Florida and Texas. Royal Caribbean was previously requiring vaccination proof.
Texas as also now passed a similar law.
All I have to say is Fuck the GOP. How stupid can they be with controlling pandemics.
bfly
Well-Known Member
^ nice for me to see that some things from pre-pandemic are exactly the same for me post.