Period as a semi-retired pensioner: 121 days
We have now reached the 500-day milestone for various levels of Covid 19 lockdown, and the virus is mutating and still going strong. In Johannesburg, as a cold winter comes to an end, the 3rd and worst wave of the coronavirus is finally starting to dissipate. The end of some form of lockdown is however not in sight. This story is being repeated in many other parts of the world where the latest more infectious delta variant is wreaking havoc across the world. On Monday I had my 2nd Pfizer Covid vaccine jab and felt grotty for two days. I decided to revisit the topic of vaccination for Ruminant Pink Friday ™. I had Covid 19 in December 2020 and Nerine has recently recovered from her bout with the delta variant and had her first Pfizer vaccine today. I wrote a blog on vaccination in January this year. https://ruminantpinkfriday.wordpress.com/2021/02/22/ruminations-on-polemics-covid-19-and-anti-vaxxers/.
I am not going to repeat the content of that blog other than to restate the following: “The science and research behind vaccines is some of the most thorough and careful scientific work occurring on the planet. Rigorous testing protocols and double-blind trials with thousands of volunteers are used to test the efficacy and safety of the vaccines”. Since January a mountain of data has been accumulated showing how effective vaccines are and how they prevent serious illness and death. Side effects are mild and serious complications are very rare. For those who have the interest the scientific analyses are freely available. This article is as good a starting point as you need if you are inclined to follow the science. https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/opinion/2021-08-04-shabir-madhi-covid-19-herd-immunity-its-not-going-to-happen-so-what-next/.
And yet the take up of vaccination in South Africa is slow. The vaccination setup at the Millpark, situated in the heart of Johannesburg, is impressive. Two floors of the large parking garage are dedicated to vaccination. There was no queue and relatively few people being vaccinated. I was vaccinated immediately, and I would crudely estimate that this vaccination site was vaccinating at 10-20% of its capacity. I had a similar experience for my first vaccination. Our local town councillor reports that the Parkhurst vaccination centre was very quiet although today it is busy. Anyone who is over 35 can walk in and get vaccinated. What is happening? It appears that many South Africans don’t want to be vaccinated. https://afrobarometer.org/press/south-africans-unsure-safety-covid-19-vaccines-many-unlikely-get-vaccinated. A majority of those surveyed stated they are unlikely to be vaccinated and 47% believe that prayer is more effective than vaccination. Well how about that? As a lifelong atheist and scientist, I can’t even begin to understand some of my fellow human beings. As Isaac Newton said, “I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies but not the madness of people”. South Africa and indeed the world is awash with morons.
What I have learned over my sixty years on this planet is that it is pointless to try and convince people with irrational beliefs with science, reason, and logic. I gave that up many years ago as the following old saying is applicable: “Never argue with a fool, they will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience”. George Bernard Shaw also said, “Never wrestle with a pig. You get dirty and besides, the pig likes it”.
The issue then becomes dealing with the consequences of what our fellow human beings believe and do. Nothing is required if they belong to the flat earth society because that doesn’t really affect the rest of us. However, not being vaccinated has consequences for all of us. It is going to prolong the pandemic and allow further mutations to develop.
The issue of vaccine passports is very topical. The EU has started implementing a vaccine passport for travelling. So, if you are not vaccinated, you can’t travel. It will be interesting to see how this evolves.
What about going to work? This is also an evolving area. What if the customer wants to deal with vaccinated people? What about vaccinated people who would prefer not to have to be in contact with unvaccinated people. This is not just about the rights of anti-vaxxers. This is also going to be an interesting space to watch. My old employer, Sasol, is taking a bold approach to vaccination. https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/industrial/some-sasol-workers-reject-mass-vaxx-effort-as-company-tries-to-prevent-superspreader-event-20210805. The time has come to confront and deal with these issues.
To what extent should the vaccinated accommodate the anti-vaxxers? If you are prepared to become a recluse to avoid your perceived risk of being vaccinated that is all well and good. However, when you want to assert your right to participate in society together with the vaccinated then a different debate starts and at some point, one needs to lace up the boxing gloves.
Just in case you felt I was displaying some small amount of sympathy for anti-vaxxers I would like to remove all doubt. Anti-vaxxers are primarily concerned about potential risks to themselves. I would hypothesise that there would be a high prevalence of narcissistic personality disorder amongst anti-vaxxers. The notion of taking one for the team does not feature.
As to those who just want to pray, I will leave as simple as possible a message. Can’t you just take the vaccine and pray? Both are possible.
Thank you for your comments and suggestions please keep them coming.
Regards
Bruce
Ruminant Pink Friday 
A difference lies in communicable versus infectious disease – and the extent to which the actions of a few can impact the lives of many. Infectious and lethal disease requires a greater response. If your decisions only impact your own rights, so be it. Once your decisions negatively impact the rights of others, the laws of society have an obligation to curb your freedoms and rights, to protect the rights of the many. As you have said, you can of course just opt out of society, that always remains a possible individual choice, but you can’t have the benefits of living within a society without respecting its laws. There are however those that cannot safely be vaccinated, and this may remain a moral grey zone, for society cannot simply expel them for something beyond their control. As you say – it’s going to be an interesting evolution, but the final outcome is already clear as to what the majority of society will eventually demand. Smallpox and polio were vaccinated into oblivion – one can see the same path for COVID.
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