[kmonad]

That virus has also not caused a global, multi-year long pandemic. In this context, your reference seems tangential to me. Vaccinations ought to reduce SARS-CoV-2 variant emergence rates by virtue of reducing viral replications.

[nradov]

What are you talking about? As far as we can determine, HCoV-OC43 did cause a global, multi-year long pandemic starting in 1889.

[kmonad]

Lol, right---I did not recognize this as the agent of one of the "deadliest pandemics" starting in 1889 (Wikipedia) in history. But what is your point? Are you of the opinion that vaccines cannot reduce variant emergence rates?

[nradov]

My opinion on the matter is irrelevant. There is no reliable, quantitative scientific evidence that vaccination actually reduces variant emergence rates. It's an interesting hypothesis but hasn't been proven or disproven.

[kmonad]

It is pretty obviously so, and it's also not controversial really.

e.g. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/covid-omicron-var...

>Do the unvaccinated populations fuel the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants?

> The consensus among the scientific community is yes, they likely do. Unvaccinated people have less protection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus and thus would allow more of the virus to multiply within them.

> The higher rate of virus multiplication in the unvaccinated is likely to result in more possible mutations of the virus, resulting in the emergence of a larger number of variants in unvaccinated than vaccinated people.

I think at this point there is not much more to say here, at least from my end. Have a great day.