3 ms·
Wasn’t it the old ‘absence of evidence =\= evidence of absence’ that should have applied? There is no reason that response to a vaccine would fall off a cliff
by mft_ 6y ago
Wasn’t it the old ‘absence of evidence =\= evidence of absence’ that should have applied?
There is no reason that response to a vaccine would fall off a cliff above a certain numerical age – the human body just doesn’t work like that. Yes, as people get older their immune responses to vaccines may weaken – but this will be unpredictable in a large group, and likely dependent on far more factors than just chronological age.
If by chance the study hadn’t recruited anybody who was 51 years old, would you have felt uncomfortable extrapolating responses from 50 and 52-year-olds?
- xiphias2 6y agoI don't want to play with my parents' life, as I love them, so no. They are locked up in their apartments for 6 months now, as I don't allow them out. Taking a suboptimal vaccine would hurt more than not having a vaccine, as they will need to start leaving their apartment in the summer, so they rather wait a few months more for the best vaccine (or more data) than have a risk of dying from COVID. I bought them big screen TV, new furniture and elliptic machine so they can spend their time in the apartment while still working out.
- kyriakos 6y agoYou have to also consider the effects of isolation and lockdown as well especially on the elderly. Obviously risk of death is worse with a bad vaccine but with more people taking the AZ vaccine we'll soon know if its effective and if it is, they will be able to leave their home sooner than waiting out for another vaccine.