HOW BEST TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED?

 The New York Times reported this morning:

Also:

The share of Covid tests coming back positive has fallen below 3 percent for the first time since widespread testing began, and the number of hospitalized patients has fallen to the lowest point in 11 months, Dr. Eric Topol of the Scripps Research Translational Institute noted. Worldwide, the pandemic is also on the decline: The Eurovision Song Contest began in 1956, and has been held annually since then, skipping 2020 because of the pandemic.  That's Tix, the Fallen Angel, from Norway.  The 2021 version from the Netherlands is tomorrow: The Guardian has a roundup of this year’s entries, including Ukrainian folk-techno and an Azerbaijani ode to a wartime spy. If you live in the U.S., you can watch the program live on Peacock.  Or click on THIS for other options.  This is the contest that got ABBA and Celine Dion going.

Jennifer Kavanaugh of Rand released an article today called How Truth Decay is Fueling Vaccine Hesitancy:

• Over half of Americans have received at least one COVID-10 dose.
• But more than a quarter of adult Americans will not try to get vaccinated.  (Also keep in mind that young children will not even qualify to get vaccinated until next year.  So a whole lot of people will be walking around infecting those who don't get vaccinated.  Most of them will be asymptomatic, so they won't know the damage they are creating.  This is my comment.)
• By political party, these percentages don't plan to be vaccinated:
• Republicans  44%
• Independents  28%
• Democrats  8%
• College degree makes a difference on choosing no:
• 4-year degree  18%
• No college degree  31%
• The requirements for attending a sporting event or concert, or requiring students to be vaccinated are split at 50-50 in the general public.
• However, for those who will not get vaccinated, 96% say they should be allowed into sporting events.
• The spread of misinformation and disinformation, which is rampant over social media, is one of the factors fueling vaccine hesitancy. And in turn, it's threatening our ability to end the pandemic for good.
• Online falsehoods come in many forms, from the unintentional spreading of misinformation, to conspiracy theories, to malign and subversive information campaigns conducted by U.S. competitors. But disinformation is just one part of a larger problem—Truth Decay, the diminishing role of facts and data in American public life.
• And as daily COVID-19 vaccination rates in the United States are on the decline, promoting specific facts and scientific data could be vital. It could help stop a deadly disease that continues to spread, saving both lives and livelihoods.

And, by the way, did you know, from the New York Times:

• Virus resources: It takes 60 days to prepare a dose of the Pfizer vaccine. See how it’s made.

• Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio said the state would give five people $1 million each for getting vaccinated.

So paying people to get vaccinated is one of a range of solutions.  Some sports franchises are setting aside certain areas of their seating only for those who got vaccinated.  And charging them 20% less.  The Seattle Mariners went further by saying that those vaccinated won't need to wear masks, and, in addition will give them  prizes.  Cruises at this time are making it mandatory for passengers and crew.  Airlines are saying it is safe to fly because of good ventilation while wearing masks, but you got wonder about this with the latest Taiwan outbreak.

Government trying to shame residents to get vaccinated and saying anti-vaxxers are stupid and selfish does not work.  What does work?

• 32%  being directly contacted a local official
• 52%  wanting to travel
• 63%  from news reports about people who had already been vaccinated

From Forbes:

• Government tool of education and coercion have only a limited effect.
• Best to give people incentive to get the shot.  Even donuts can work.
• The U.S. Navy, for example, was faced with a third of their sailors declining to be vaccinated:
• So they provided incentives.
• Those who got vaccinated did not have to quarantine before deployments.
• Vaccinated sailor can get off the ship and enjoy liberty in safe haven ports.
• States can allow the vaccinated to eat indoor at restaurants.
• Sporting and entertainment companies can give the vaccinated priority to access events.

There is also a goodly number who remains skeptical because these vaccines have not yet been officially approved.  You wonder why the Federal government, meaning the Food and Drug Administration, doesn't officially approve these vaccines?  This emergency authorization has been ongoing for nearly five months.  And they are all safe.  Well, Anthony Fauci recently said that the full FDA approval will come very soon.  But no one is providing a sensible timeline.  Just this major step announced by President Joe Biden in a national address could convince many to go ahead and get a shot or two, helping us out of this pandemic sooner.

While continuing to advocate personal freedom, more and more universities are nevertheless choosing to require incoming Fall students to get vaccinated.  K-12 schools can't do this because there is no firm indication when younger students can be injected.  As far back as April 6, 80% of K-12 teachers, staff and childcare workers received at least their first shot.  However, due to privacy concerns, that number is difficult to confirm.  A poll by the National Education Association showed that just 11% of teachers will choose not to be vaccinated.  Thus, most teachers will be safe.  Not necessarily so for families of students.

So to attain herd immunity, which itself is a huge and questionable range...from 60% to 90% depending on certain circumstances...will mean some combination of coercion (vaccine passports on phone, for example) and incentives.  The bottom line is that in this transition to normality, those who choose not to get vaccinated will be the ones to contract COVID-19 and die.  Meaning there will be fewer Republicans, lesser educated and.....

Finally, wishing you a happy weekend, here are two photos, and as the honohono orchids are hiding the plant located just behind, the second shot shows the blackest anthuriums I've ever seen:

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