Name:   GoneFishin - Subject:   "And the truth shall set you free" Date:   3/6/2023 11:20:25 PM (updated 3/6/2023 11:31:24 PM)

Here is the good Doc's observation on vaccines dated August 2021.

Opinion: Why COVID-19 Vaccines Should Not Be Required for All Americans

Dr. Marty Makary: I’m pro-vaccine but blanket requirements outside of health care go too far.

By U.S. News Staff | Aug. 5, 2021, at 11:27 a.m. This editorial reflects the opinions of the contributor(s) and not of U.S. News & World Report. It is part of The Forum, which examines multiple viewpoints on key issues.

COVID-19 vaccine mandates have become a hotly contested issue, as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rebound nationwide, driven by the highly contagious delta variant and unswerving vaccine hesitancy. New York City will soon be the first major U.S. city to require proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, gyms and other indoor public spaces.

Dr. Marty Makary, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and editor in chief of MedPage Today, argues that mandating vaccines for "every living, walking American" is, as of now, not well-supported by science. Moreover Makary, author of "The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Care—and How to Fix It," has concerns about the two-dose vaccine regimen for young people

U.S. News: Should all Americans be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine? Dr. Marty Makary: No. As a physician with a lot of experience dealing with patients who don't follow what we ask them to do, I believe you win more bees with honey than fire. The vaccines are so good at protecting against death from COVID-19 that those who are immune can feel good about living life without having to worry about becoming severely ill.

Vaccines downgrade the infection to a mild seasonal virus – one we must learn to live with for years to come. Those who choose not to get vaccinated are making a poor health decision at their own individual risk. They pose no public health threat to those already immune. Would we be so stern toward people making similar or worse health choices to smoke, drink alcohol or not wear a helmet when riding a bike? Over 85,000 Americans die annually from alcohol, yet we don't have the same public health fervor or requirements to save those lives. Let's encourage vaccination rather than activate the personal liberty culture wars that result in people becoming more entrenched in their opposition.