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14 thoughts on “How to Talk with Covid Vaccine Skeptics”
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Joseph, thank you for your recommendations. I’ve used them to improve how I approach people about not getting this vaccine. As you well know, there’s a tremendous amount of propaganda aimed at people to get these shots and you have to be careful, and sensitive, when providing an alternative view. Thank you again.
Generally I appreciate you perspective. However, in this instance I do not and for several reasons. First and foremost is that our current vaccination program for Covid is experimental. Thus why would anyone attempt to pressure, no matter how well intentioned, another into participating in research, if they felt strongly that they did not want to?
Participation is participation in research. This means we do not know many important things. In time we will learn what the short term/long term impact is, what the health consequences are, etc. The experimental nature of our vaccine program seems to be completely forgotten. Like any research an individual can freely elect to participate or not.
Second, the vaccine does not prevent “catching” it but supposedly mitigates the severity. I believe you assume in your example of a residential school for adults that if vaccinated they would all be safe. Yet, we know that a vaccinated individual can spread the virus, can contract, and yes can die from the virus.
Third, the irony of influence is that those trying to influence always think their way of thinking is the right way and only way to consider a situation. I know many individuals that have submitted to the vaccine with their insides in knots because of significant fear. Some of us consider the information and make a different choice. This makes us neither stupid or ill informed and the assumption that it does and therefor are open to influence is an incorrect assumption.
Oh my gosh the part about credible resources. Take a look at the reporting from credible resources and compare. They are not even getting it correct. The language is not always accurate and assumptions are made. You have to be able to think and read critically to detect the nuance, assumptions, and inaccuracies. Luckily for me I have education and training that provides the tools I need.
How is it that we have gotten to the point that we are expected to take part in research without question? That one makes the decision for what another must inject into their body? Or the assumption that individuals of varied backgrounds should arrive at the same decision? Rather, I have made my well researched decision and you have made yours. Good for us both. I suggest you save your influence protocol for another topic and certainly for another person. I have convinced myself. Have you? Really? Perhaps you are are the one more appropriate for influence.
Well said. The more research I do, the more I am convinced that we should not be “vaccinating” everyone, esp not children which is now being considered. I put vaccinating it in quotes bec this “vaccine” does not really work like other vaccines. It affects the Messenger RNA. We are being fed mountains of propaganda and Americans have become Sheeples. Very sad to watch.
You highlight one of the nuances I allude to and that is the word “vaccine”. The assumption people are making because of this word are enormous and inaccurate.
Thank you
Dear stranger. It’s disappointing reading a message that implies you and so many others worry about the long and short term impact vaccines have on others and ‘health consequences.” Do you know what foreign substance enters the body and has worse long and short health consequences? Diseases. Diseases do that. I’m glad covid 19 hasn’t hurt someone you love yet. Until then, look up measle, rubella, cancer, polio or any other disease symptoms and then tell me how scary vaccines are. Don’t let the sound of a loved one choking while face-timing with a ventilator be your wake-up call.
At the moment no one really knows for sure the ultimate consequences of the Covid vaccines. Only time will tell. But if everyone wants for that time to come the virus may never be brought under control. While everyone is free to make their own decision it is surely nobler, braver and in the interests of the greater good to offer to take the vaccine. It will be helping research move ahead quickly rather than stagnating for lack of data.
It would also be noble to stand by those that may suffer health consequences or death through their participation in research. Yet, the companies producing the vaccine have negotiated their way out of this risk and sadly there are numerous examples of government not filling the void.
I have to admit I felt a bit noble and brave when I got the shots! Like I do when donating blood – doing something that hurts a bit but helps others. I also think back to all the vaccines of the past, that have fully or mostly eradicated diseases – someone always has to be among the first.
How about an article on how to talk to true believers in Covid as the new Plague, masks, and the DNA therapy and all of the measures being taken for a virus with a low-risk of infection and a high survival rate? It is very frustrating to be shamed for talking facts and data in the face of overwhelming media slamming. I am very tired of not being able to get people to think beyond media sound bites.
Hysteria is powerful and can be used to move mountains. Again, one only needs to look to history for examples. Time is the only thing that will provide perspective. I imagine watching a Netflix documentary in about a decade.
With that said I follow all community health guidelines and will continue to do so for as long as suggested by the CDC and perhaps longer if I feel it appropriate to protect my health. However, individuals ignore these directions apparently not caring about the greater good but if I elect not to inject an experimental substance into my body, I am the one that needs to be influenced.
Yes you can afford to be influenced. Are you so sure you opinion is worth influencing others it’s better risk dying of covid 19 than getting a vaccine until…. when.. until you change your mind? Are you really that proud of yourself in your effort to help people not trust anyone or anything and risk death? Jeepers. Wow 👏
I generally don’t try to discuss it much with “skeptics.” I just try to set a positive example by sharing information from credible sources and sharing my own experiences (appointments,getting the shots, my experience afterwards) on social media. I’ve found that most older people (60s and up) who I know are getting the vaccine regardless of political leanings. They know they are at higher risk of serious results. A relative of mine was skeptical; a friend had told him they were using the vaccine to “take our guns away.” I did ask him how; he didn’t know. But he did end up deciding to get it. Maybe my question made him think, maybe not, but I’m glad he’s getting it! The pandemic is very real, and very deadly. I think some people don’t want to believe it, so they grasp on to any self-declared expert who denies the facts.
Good for you, Julinda! You may have saved someone’s life. My friend’s husband (healthy and 53) is currently in the hospital with Covid. My friend will not be convinced that this virus has a low risk of transmission and low risk of death as some have purported in this thread. It’s too bad that it takes some people to have a very close personal experience and potentially lose someone they love before they consider what could be done to reduce their risk.