We are seeing history repeat itself. The Ebola epidemic in West Africa was mishandled[1]Ebola’s lessons: How WHO mishandled the crisis. The people of the affected countries opposed the restrictions that prevented transmission, because their governments had a record of lying to their people. Why should they be trusted? And we looked on and said, “how could that happen?” Now we’ve found out.
On 15 February 2020 Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of WHO, criticised the media for declaring the new Corona virus a pandemic, saying that misinformation about the outbreak amounted to an Infodemic[2]Misinformation During the COVID-19 Outbreak in China: Cultural, Social and Political Entanglements. On 11 March, less than four weeks later, he reversed his position, announcing that it was indeed a pandemic, and we needed to take urgent steps to contain the spread[3]opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 11 March 2020. But the advice ignored already known variations from earlier Corona viruses – the disease is highly contagious and one in three people are asymptomatic[4]The Plague Year. So, one of the primary containment measures, track and trace is virtually useless. If you don’t know who has the disease, you don’t know who to track, unless you test everyone all of the time.
Ghebreyesus was criticised for praising China for its response to the outbreak in Wuhan province, ignoring evidence that China had withheld crucial information that could have limited the spread of the disease to other countries[5]Did WHO’s China ties slow decision to declare emergency?.
The CDC released a COVID-19 test with a 33% false positive rate. One in three people who were being told to self isolate did not have COVID, and the CDC knew that when it released the test[6]The Plague Year.
In October 2019, the Nuclear Threat Initiative published the Global Health Security Index, a document setting out nations’ capacities and capabilities to reduce Global Catastrophic Biological Risks (GCBRs), which are biological risks of unprecedented scale that could cause severe damage to human civilisation at a global level, potentially undermining civilization’s long-term potential[7]Global Health Security Index. Essentially a plan setting out the risks and how to deal with COVID-19.
The US government had a plan[8]Playbook for Early Response to High-consequence Emerging Infectious Disease Threats and Biological Incidents. But instead of following the plan, the President lied to his people, telling them that COVID-19 is little worse than the flu, and suggested injecting disinfectant or using powerful light would counter the disease[9]The Plague Year. Some people foolishly followed his advice[10]States see spike in poison control calls following Trump’s comments on injecting disinfectant.
The human immune system has dealt with previous pandemics. But at great cost. The 1918 flu epidemic caused at least 50 million deaths[11]History of 1918 Flu Pandemic. In 1918 governments responded unevenly. Today, In the absence of leadership from the WHO, history repeated itself, with the United States leading the way. The states were left competing for limited resources[12]The Plague Year. And people died.
Authoritarian regimes adopted draconian strategies to prevent the spread. In democracies, some countries implemented lockdowns, while others did not. Sweden was heavily criticised for relying on its people to be responsible. Initially infection rates and mortalities soared[13]The Swedish COVID-19 strategy revisited. Now that the strategy is paying off and Sweden’s mortality rate has hit zero, that approach looks sensible[14]Sweden daily Covid deaths hit zero, with human liberty still intact.
Some of the states in the USA followed Sweden’s approach, but without the data to let people make an informed decision. Wearing a mask, proven to be effective against transmission, was seen as a sign of political allegiance, and people followed the Donald Trump’s lead, choosing not to wear one. Trump’s carelessness created a super spreader event in the Rose Garden event celebrating the appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court[15]The Plague Year.
In Sweden, the soaring mortality rate reversed itself, but other countries went though waves of infections, and more people died.
Why aren’t we being properly informed. People who have been infected are being told to vaccinate, but the evidence suggests they don’t need to[16]Longitudinal analysis shows durable and broad immune memory after SARS-CoV-2 infection with persisting antibody responses and memory B and T cells.
Numerous of the world’s top athletes have tested positive for COVID. Novak Djokovic, Lewis Hamilton, Adam Yates, Egan Bernal. None needed medical treatment. All are still dominating their sports. The 1918 pandemic was indiscriminate, attacking everyone. Many governments have adopted the 1918 solutions without looking at the differences between that catastrophe and this one. COVID-19 is changing our lives, and that lack of attention says that the elected leaders making life-changing decision just don’t care.
Our governments tell us that the vaccine works. But Isreal, whose population is almost fully vaccinated is seeing a surge in infections, and has reintroduced restrictions, and is contemplating another lockdown[17]Israel reinstates some virus restrictions to avoid a full lockdown. In Iceland, where 68% of the population are fully vaccinated, the infection rates are soaring again[18]What’s the status of COVID-19 in Iceland?. In the United Kingdom, the governments website states that the vaccine is highly effective against the Delta variant of the virus[19]Vaccines highly effective against hospitalisation from Delta variant. But that is not true[20]Early signs COVID-19 vaccines may not stop Delta transmission, England says.
We are not being informed about the false positive test rates of the COVID tests that can change our lives. A positive test means athletes can’t compete, people can’t work, and we can’t travel. The CDC and the FDA blame each other for the botched test release in 2020. People with integrity take responsibility. The logical conclusion is that they have no integrity, so why should we trust them when they say that the vaccine is the solution and that it is safe.
We’ve all heard stories from friends who have been vaccinated, and did not feel well for days afterwards. We’re being treated like guinea pigs.
The great vaccinate debate is not really about the vaccine, it’s about our loss of trust in our elected leaders.
Additional reading:
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