[dkdk8283]

My friends wife lost an eye due to complications from a booster.

The vaccine has real side effects, the faster we can have a civic conversation about it the better off we all are.

I have severe cardiovascular problems and cannot get the vaccine. I’m judged and called an antivaxxer all the time. It’s not us vs them, we’re all in it together.

Being open and honest is always the best path. Especially when you disagree.

[TheNewsIsHere]

I agree that everyone is a bit quick to judge, and I’m sorry you’re more vulnerable because of a preexisting condition. And I’m sorry to hear of that kind of complication from any medication. I hope she was able to make a claim and get compensation through the adverse effects program (assuming you’re in the US).

My dad gets the flu shot each year. He’s not an anti-vaxxer. The COVID shot seems different though.

My dad still refuses to get a vaccine because all he hears is mis- and disinformation. He’s recently changed to “leaning toward getting the shot,” which is great, but he wants to drive another family member around this weekend who is currently suffering from COVID-19.

Being open and honest with him, I told him the most likely outcome for him, and even held back on how grim his particular prognosis would likely be given his risk factors. But people don’t want to hear the reality.

That reality is that these vaccines are, statistically, safe and effective for the vast majority of the population. (I know that you weren’t asserting otherwise, and that you aren’t in that majority.) There comes a point when refusal to engage with that reality in typical circumstances becomes a dividing line. It might be fear driven for those who don’t have a contraindicated condition, but it’s hard not think of refusal by people in medically typical circumstances, at this point, to be precious and selfish.

[hbrav]

I find your story very interesting, because it's a pattern I've heard several times before: someone who does not want to get vaccinated because of the risk of side effects, but is willing to expose themselves, to a greater degree than is necessary, to the risk of covid.

It seems that for some people there's an intrinsically greater distrust of vaccines (a synthetic thing) than disease (a natural thing).

[peakaboo]

Hacker news routinely removes comments about the vaccine dangers and calling it flame bait, and itches to ban me or anyone else who talks about those things.

It's a long time since we were in this together. It's against the people who don't vaccinate now.

[BlackjackCF]

Your friend's wife and you are absolutely not antivaxxers. You're the folks that we're trying to protect with herd immunity via vaccination, because you cannot get a vaccine.

I'm sorry you're being judged, that's awful.