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While in principle it sounds good, recognizing the substantial level of immunity of individuals with past COVID-19 infections, and would probably be fine in a s

While in principle it sounds good, recognizing the substantial level of immunity of individuals with past COVID-19 infections, and would probably be fine in a sane world, I feel that this creates some risky incentives. Many anti-vax and conspiracy-oriented people unfortunately have the false belief that COVID-19 infection is a trivial matter or a hoax. Consequently, some may resort to pox parties [0] as a way to avoid vaccination. And yes, people have tried this: > And this was no ordinary party–it was a “COVID party”, where guests tried to intentionally get the virus to “build up natural immunity” without getting vaccinated. [1] If people were to intentionally try to gain immunity through exposure, at least 5% of them (and their subsequent infected contacts) will end up in the hospital, consuming healthcare resources. That seems a foolish risk to take, politically. The aforementioned people who tried it in Alberta ended up filling several beds in the hospital: > A party west of Edmonton has landed several people in the hospital with COVID-19, sources have confirmed to CityNews. [1] In reality, if you've already had COVID it is a trivial act to get vaccinated. That vaccination will help boost your immune response to the disease and may even help to limit your risk of breakthrough infection. I can't see a serious, legitimate reason to not get the vaccine in such cases. And to allow otherwise creates dangerous incentives. [0] : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pox_party https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pox_party [1]: https://www.660citynews.com/2021/09/23/alberta-covid-party-hospital/ https://www.660citynews.com/2021/09/23/alberta-covid-party-h...

reducesuffering 5y ago
So let's just keep firing natural-immunity only people? Surely they won't lose all faith in government and corporate institutions when they're being fired for negligible benefit...
- murphyslab 5y ago
  > they're being fired for negligible benefit You are only measuring "benefit" to the individual. They're mandated to do something with zero cost and minimal risk. And it comes with massive benefit to the group and to the public as a whole. They're being mandated because there is a huge cost to infection. The Canadian government pays an average of $23,000 for every person that gets hospitalized by COVID. [0] Roughly 5% of those infected require hospitalization. And we have already seen numerous people blocked from timely access to healthcare due to hospitals being filled with COVID patients. It's good public policy to require vaccination. Providing incentive to get infected is a really bad idea because it will result in healthcare resources being massively oversubscribed. Besides, infection-acquired immunity is not permanent. The virus mutates and it is likely that additional vaccination will eventually be required for subsequent variants. [0] : https://www.cihi.ca/en/covid-19-hospital-stays-cost-3-times-more-than-a-stay-for-heart-attack https://www.cihi.ca/en/covid-19-hospital-stays-cost-3-times-...
raxxorrax 5y ago
I think people should think less about incentives and more about realistic assessment of dangers of the disease. You are not talking to pupils and you are not a teacher. I am vaccinated but by some sloppy internet dictionaries an "anti-vaxxer" because I oppose mandatory vaccination. This shifting in policy was predicted by a lot of the more crazier groups, which makes their statements true. You may not want to give people false incentives...

reducesuffering 5y ago

So let's just keep firing natural-immunity only people? Surely they won't lose all faith in government and corporate institutions when they're being fired for negligible benefit...

murphyslab 5y ago
> they're being fired for negligible benefit You are only measuring "benefit" to the individual. They're mandated to do something with zero cost and minimal risk. And it comes with massive benefit to the group and to the public as a whole. They're being mandated because there is a huge cost to infection. The Canadian government pays an average of $23,000 for every person that gets hospitalized by COVID. [0] Roughly 5% of those infected require hospitalization. And we have already seen numerous people blocked from timely access to healthcare due to hospitals being filled with COVID patients. It's good public policy to require vaccination. Providing incentive to get infected is a really bad idea because it will result in healthcare resources being massively oversubscribed. Besides, infection-acquired immunity is not permanent. The virus mutates and it is likely that additional vaccination will eventually be required for subsequent variants. [0] : https://www.cihi.ca/en/covid-19-hospital-stays-cost-3-times-more-than-a-stay-for-heart-attack https://www.cihi.ca/en/covid-19-hospital-stays-cost-3-times-...

raxxorrax 5y ago

I think people should think less about incentives and more about realistic assessment of dangers of the disease. You are not talking to pupils and you are not a teacher. I am vaccinated but by some sloppy internet dictionaries an "anti-vaxxer" because I oppose mandatory vaccination. This shifting in policy was predicted by a lot of the more crazier groups, which makes their statements true. You may not want to give people false incentives...