People continue to resist the various Covid-19 vaccines, mostly either because the shots are still technically "experimental" in spite of having been administered to 150 million people, or because the government wants us to be vaccinated and is, prima facie, untrustworthy. About all of this I have some thoughts.
If the two main mRNA vaccines are still experimental, it is the largest experiment human beings have ever undertaken in or before recorded history. Was it rushed? Certainly. Has it saved lives? Probably a million or more. Are overwhelmingly most of the millions vaccinated walking around enjoying life? They are, I am.
Is our government untrustworthy? Not infrequently, although certainly not constantly, and probably not in this case. President Trump urged vaccination, President Biden urges it, chances are as a citizen of this country you look with approval on one of those two worthies, and for a change they are in agreement about the importance of vaccination.
Are there risks in being vaccinated? Yes. Are those substantially less than the risks of catching Covid-19 and being very sick or dying? Again, yes. Life is risky, and sooner or later everyone dies. The general idea is to act in ways that support the "later" option. Vaccination does that.
I wish they had already shown the vaccine was safe for children. It would make in-person schooling and family life much less complicated for grandparents, parents, and kids.
