Vaccine Choices

This decision isn't just about the numbers - even if the statistical probabilities point one way, we can't measure everything statistically, such as the terrible shitty political climate surrounding the vaccines. That stuff justifiably sways our opinions, is highly relevant and raises understandable doubts about whether we can even trust the data, the doctors, the experts, the manufacturers and so on.  People fall into group-think, and with the numbers in my country being so low, I have no idea how our medical professionals can be so powerfully under the spell of this disease. 

There's also something to be said for probability vs certainty.  The data may give us a 99.999% certainty.  That still leaves open the possibility that reality fits in the .001%.  It happens all the time - in fact YOU are .001% in thousands of statistical outcomes - hair/skin/eye color combination perhaps.  So mere numeric probability is not good enough for life-changing decisions that involve values, subjective judgement and hedging our bets.

Hedging our bets you ask?  Yes - nature always hedges her bets.  That's why we are all so different from one another.  That's why we don't all run in the same direction - in case there is a cliff at the end, some of us will have gone the other way.  We always need those people in any healthy society - we can't demand the same course of action even if we're all looking at the same data.

That said, I've reached a turning point. I'm over all the noise. I'm over all the politics. I'm sitting down and doing the math, for myself.

I'm done rebelling for the sake of rebelling. But - to all you rabid pro-vaxxers out there - your rhetoric, your callous disregard for human rights, disrespect for individual autonomy and hatred of independent thinkers - you couldn't have done a better job of putting smart and insightful people off the jabs.  To all the unvaccinated - go you.  I fully support your rights, and you should not cave to the pressure, no matter how bad it gets.  They are in the wrong - you need your time and space to figure this thing out for yourself and make your own decision.  I get it - you are your own person, with individual rights and medical agency.

I've decided to ignore all the noise surrounding the pro- and anti-vax debate - including the disgusting politics (mandates, passports, law changes, manipulative propaganda, peer-pressure), in order to investigate the stats, mechanism of action, risk/reward for myself.  It feels great.  I feel calm, clear, rational.  Let's do this.  Not for the politicians, not for grandma.  For ourselves.  I'm making a decision for myself, to support your right to make a decision for yourself.