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The vast majority of the stories involving vaccinations that we covered here over the summer seemed to revolve around hesitating and rejecting vaccines or disposing of unused vials when they reach their expiration date. But a new trend emerging in Massachusetts (and probably many other areas) is breaking that pattern and finding people moving in the opposite direction. The panic and confusion caused by the changing and conflicting guidelines from the CDC in response to the delta variant have made some people anxious to get another injection as a booster. But booster shots have yet to be cleared by the FDA, so Bay State vaccination sites do not offer them. This doesn’t deter everyone, however. The Boston Globe has spoken to a number of people who have attempted to bend the rules by traveling out of state, lying by forgetting to bring their ID, or simply lying that they already had been vaccinated.
With the Delta variant soaring and groundbreaking cases in Massachusetts approaching 8,000, people are already deciding they don’t have time to wait. Some cross state borders in the hope of evading detection. Others rush to pharmacies where they heard that no questions would be asked or falsely stating that they had not yet received a vaccine …
People who have gotten J&J may be especially eager to get an extra hit (although a new study, in South Africa, shows it to be effective against Delta), but as cases mount and COVID closes, many of those who got Moderna or Pfizer are also interested, observers say, as are those with weakened immune systems.
“People are trying to get this third shot by hook or by crook,” said Peter Grinspoon, an internist at Massachusetts General Hospital who has been bombarded with “can you help me” from patients and friends. .
It appears that at least in the Boston area, people who have received the J&J vaccine are particularly nervous and are looking to jump on a booster. This is obviously another instance of the CDC and the mainstream media teaming up to cram frequently contradictory reports into the pipeline and cause panic. As recently as June, we were informed that the Johnson & Johnson dose was not very effective against the Delta variant. But now, only a few weeks later, a second study in South Africa rates the dose of J&J as “very effective” against Delta. These two things cannot be simultaneously true. Does anyone know what’s really going on? No wonder people go to this point to cheat their way to get a callback.
And these areas are not negligible in some cases. A woman who spoke to World on condition of anonymity complained that her doctor’s office offered no explanation and that the CDC “continues to change what we’re supposed to do.” Another woman from Jamaica Plain described how she first visited a CVS without mentioning that she had previously been vaccinated at a local Walgreens. They went through her insurance information, found out about the previous jab, and turned her back. She then traveled to New Hampshire to try out a pharmacy whose website didn’t list insurance or ID. But when she arrived, they still asked for her ID and rejected her when she objected to providing it. She then tried a mobile pod where people were getting vaccinated in their cars, but was released after her daughter denounced her in front of the person taking patient information. (“But mama, you’ve already had a blow. ”)
Many people claim to be confused by those who delay vaccination or refuse it altogether, even when the FDA has only granted emergency approval for vaccines. For my part, I’m even more confused by people rushing to break the rules and get a recall when recalls don’t even have emergency approval yet. (Although it should be released soon.) Only a comparative handful of people received a third injection and were watched for any potential side effects. This new mRNA technology is still in its infancy compared to traditional vaccines.
Seriously… what are you doing? No one saw the blood clots, heart problems and other problems with these vaccines happen until a significant portion of the population received them. (Each is, admittedly, still quite rare.) We still only have a fraction of the data regarding how children deal with these vaccines compared to what we know about adults. Are you really going to get tricked into becoming a guinea pig?
In related news, another study published this week claims to show that people who have survived COVID can develop “a dramatic increase in anti-virus immune cells” after being vaccinated. So now, even if you ignore the virus and build your own antibodies, they’re going to tell you to go get the shot anyway. But what will this do to the immunity passport debacle? Most existing systems give you a green check mark if you provide proof from your doctor that you have had COVID in the past and survived. Will this exception be canceled now?
I still give Operation Warpspeed credit for developing and deploying certain vaccines at lightning speed. But the CDC’s handling of collecting and disseminating information about the virus and vaccines has been a total disgrace. And the majority of news outlets have played along, generating more fear, panic, and uncertainty among audiences in the name of having more catchy headlines and scaring people into continuing to listen or to read their reports.
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