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by ipaddr 1659 days ago
Before the vaccine (less than a year ago) they prevented the spread by using n95 masks and ppe.

Knowing that the vaccine doesn't prevent the person from getting and spreading covid. Knowing that the point of the vaccine is to prevent serious illness in the person receiving it. I struggle to understand why you would not even question how important they are in that setting unless you are worried they have dropped that extra safety component.
2 comments
_djo_ 1659 days ago
No, they really didn't. Healthcare workers got COVID in large numbers, causing severe absenteeism, a number of deaths, and many with ongoing Long Covid conditions.

It's part of the reason that bed capacity has been so difficult to keep constant or increase.

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burntbridge 1659 days ago
>Knowing that the vaccine doesn't prevent the person from getting and spreading covid.

Vaccines reduce the risk of spreading the virus. People who are vaccinated are less likely to get seriously ill. This absolutely doesn't mean you won't die if you are vaccinated. Think seat belts in car accidents. It is all about reducing risk. On mass, at population levels, this means ICU have capacity to take in other seriously ill people. If ICUs are full and there is a plane crash or whatever where many people are seriously injured we are screwed.

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ipaddr 1658 days ago
People who get vaccinated are less likely to get seriously ill. Seriously ill people withdraw from society. Those with mild illness continue to go out into society and increasing the spread.

You could make the point that increasing the spread when everyone is protected is fine but that allows for increased mutations.

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