I am a very cautious person, and as a survivalist I shy away from anything that can potentially harm me, so long as my lifestyle is unaffected. My fear of flying has dissipated with time, but I still need a valium.
Historically, trusting science has been imperfect
- cigarettes
- thalidomide
- asbestos
and so on.
The new COVID vaccines mostly use a brand new mRNA technology – no long-term studies can exist because of its newness. That worries me. However, there has never been long-term side-effects from any vaccine ever.
The argument for not passing the virus on to friends and family is fading, jabbed people still spread it.
If my lifestyle was unaffected, I definitely would not get the vaccine.
In Australia, nightclubs and footy matches might need a vaccine passport – neither affects me. I doubt we will restrict pubs and restaurants. And I think we will reach 80% vaccinated without too much coercion, because we will see what happens overseas – lockdowns ended and lots of un-vaccinated people dying. And Aussies will realise they can’t go to Bali without a jab passport. So, I don’t feel I need to “do my part” to get us to 80%.
Travel. I have a lot of international travel left in me. Part of that is wanting to return to the North Pole every year. Part is seeing my NZ family regularly. I want to go on a cruise just because it is stupid. I have more volcanoes to climb. I need to check out India. And this will be impossible without the jab.
I will need the jab to travel, so I am getting the Pfizer jab this week. I want to have both doses before travel resumes, which could be quite soon. I will have 3 months of annual leave up my sleeve in November 🙂
Note that these companies have the vaccines names after them, the reputation risk is substantial so that gives me more faith.
I would get the AstraZeneca one if that was my only option. The risk of death is substantially lower than flying, driving a car, or even taking aspirin.