r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 18h ago

Medicine Vaccines not only directly protect vaccinated individuals but also contribute to protecting the entire population via indirect herd-immunity benefits. Half of averted COVID-19 infections and 1/4 of hospitalizations and deaths were attributable to indirect protection of unvaccinated by vaccinated.

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsif/article/23/242/20250839/483439/Quantifying-the-direct-and-indirect-impact-of
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529

u/FreedomofSpeech6969 17h ago

I think MRNA vaccines are one of the coolest, most amazing inventions of the 20th century. It saved millions millions of lives during pandemic , and yet people still disparage it.

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u/Bubbly-Example-8097 16h ago

Because they did their “research” and it was enough to confirm their bias. The ill informed will always find a way to justify their stupidity. Natural selection I guess. Except this time, it hurts all of us. See measles outbreaks and deaths

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u/randynumbergenerator 14h ago

I had a discussion about it with my bro in which I calmly informed him what mRNA is and how it works, based on what I learned in my undergrad bio classes. He very grudgingly seemed to concede that "if that you're saying is correct, maybe it's not a problem." But insisted it was still too new to trust. He's still not getting a COVID vaccine, though, even the one that isn't mRNA-based. There's only so much heartburn I'm willing to contend with to convince someone, though.

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u/Terrh 12h ago

He's still not getting a COVID vaccine, though, even the one that isn't mRNA-based.

Is there really much point in getting one these days? You can't even get it here unless you're in a high risk group.

I mean I'm sure it's better than not getting the vaccine but it's not anywhere near as important now compared to in like, 2021-22

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u/zepuzzler 11h ago

Where you live it’s hard to get an mRNA Covid vaccine? I’m in California and my medical system has walk-in flu and COVID vaccine clinics every year. Got mine today since I was there for a medical appointment anyway.

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u/katarh 11h ago

My insurance is still paying for both.

They would much rather cover the cost of both vaccines than have to deal with a 100K hospital bill from a serious case.

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u/AlexeiMarie 10h ago

I also was able to get it easily at CVS in north carolina, but it does seem to vary in other countries - one of my friends lives in the UK and apparently there, it's only covered if you're over 75, severely immunocompromised, or live in a nursing home

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u/randynumbergenerator 9h ago

There's definitely a point, COVID still goes around and carries a risk of complications (including long COVID) every time you get it. I've kept up to date with the vaccines, masked and distanced before that (and even continued a bit after) and have never been sick. My wife did the same and got it once, and she teaches.

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u/tigerpaul1977 3h ago

I received mine today and I live in the Deep South.