RE: Sobering28 Feb 2021 09:20
This death rate is one of the arguments that Anti vaxers focus on, it is only one side of the equation, however, and ignores the whole picture.
So. Assume there was 100% vaccination. Let's say the vaccine turns out to be just as effective as the Flu vaccine, around 50%.
This doesn't mean only 50% of the 113.9m get infected, far from it. If you get infected and don't know it - asymptomatic, you go about your normal routine. Shopping, work, family etc. etc. You may well infect a number of people, but post full vaccination, you can only infect 50% of the number you could previously. They in turn can only infect 50% and so on. The net effect is that the infection rate reduces dramatically. You will actually get close to only 25 % of the 113.9m. So, assuming the same 2.2% death rate, you only have 626,000 deaths. Quite a difference.
This is what the vaccination thrust is all about, reducing the sustained transmission rate as well as reducing the severity of those infected.
Please do not insult the intelligence of normal people by trotting out the mantra of "it is a legitimate question". It is a focus on only part of the equation designed to promote the anti-vax view.