3 ms·

The flu shot does not prevent one from getting the flu and spreading it to others. Like the past 3 years have shown, you're just not going to get herd immunity

The flu shot does not prevent one from getting the flu and spreading it to others. Like the past 3 years have shown, you're just not going to get herd immunity with these short term low efficacy shots, even when paired alongside monumental, wide scale, and completely unsustainable efforts. Also, the risk of something needs to be put in context of the risk of what you're protecting against. If something only has a severe negative side effect 1 in a million times, then it absolutely should be considered extremely low risk. But you're risk of whatever it's protecting against only has a severe outcome 1 in 2 million times? Well not only should it also then be considered extremely low risk, but getting the treatment would be quite illogical. These risks also needs to be multiplied repeatedly for low efficacy treatments which entail annual use.

haldujai 3y ago
Both of your comments have described concepts that are very important to understand when discussing medical interventions, especially at the population level. Your reasoning is correct, I just wanted to add the terminology we use: Absolute risk reduction (ARR), relative risk reduction (RRR), number needed to treat (NNT), number needed to harm (NNH). Reading about these is a good starting point for anyone wanting to understand more about the decision making process.
brokensegue 3y ago
> The flu shot does not prevent one from getting the flu and spreading it to others It does both of those things. Maybe read: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm > Also, the risk of something needs to be put in context of the risk of what you're protecting against True. And one thing we're protecting against is getting the flu. That has a probability much much higher than 1 in 2 million.

haldujai 3y ago

Both of your comments have described concepts that are very important to understand when discussing medical interventions, especially at the population level. Your reasoning is correct, I just wanted to add the terminology we use: Absolute risk reduction (ARR), relative risk reduction (RRR), number needed to treat (NNT), number needed to harm (NNH). Reading about these is a good starting point for anyone wanting to understand more about the decision making process.

brokensegue 3y ago

> The flu shot does not prevent one from getting the flu and spreading it to others It does both of those things. Maybe read: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm > Also, the risk of something needs to be put in context of the risk of what you're protecting against True. And one thing we're protecting against is getting the flu. That has a probability much much higher than 1 in 2 million.