Philip Theus (prev. Mueller)May 28, 2025
JA Westenberg

If you live in a community with 98% vaccination rates, you can afford to be the 2%.

You can post wellness memes about "natural immunity" and still get herd immunity as a side effect.

Your child is statistically safe, not because of your parenting, but in spite of it.

https://www.theindex.media/the-herd-immunity-illusion/
https://www.theindex.media/the-herd-immunity-illusion/

The Most Privileged Lie in America

Anti-vaxx isn’t skepticism. It’s a luxury belief built on borrowed immunity.

The Index.
May 28, 2025 at 6:38amPubler
Show threadPhil, wardenMay 28, 2025
@Daojoan High levels of ignorance is only affordable in advanced and rich societies. But there must be a breaking point.
Show threadfmc01May 28, 2025
@Daojoan A brilliant article. The virus doesn’t care what you believe. The virus’s best interests are served when it only kills a few people - if the virus kills too many then the hosts will come after you and do whatever is needed to eradicate the virus - such as banishing the unvaccinated to a nearby hill camp for 40 days (quarantine) to see if they survive.
Show threadGraeme 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿May 28, 2025
@Daojoan Spot on. Pure selfishness and/or stupidity.
Show threadBart AllenMay 28, 2025
@Daojoan Had to explain to an old boss that 97% survivability (approx covid rate prior to vaccine) isn't as great as it sounds. We worked at a company hovering at 200 people so I told him "Go out there and pick 6 people you're willing to shoot in the head" His eyes got real big.
Show threadfear is not a WeltanschauungMay 28, 2025
@Daojoan i picture in my head, demographically speaking, people who would shun others for the social faux-pas of coming to the pot-luck empty-handed even as they freeload every day at the herd-immunity buffet, and who most likely drive those big lethal luxury-military utility vehicles to protect their children's lives at the expense of everyone else's children's lives.
Show threadPteryx the Puzzle SecretaryMay 28, 2025

@Daojoan The part of the article about the pandemic doing nothing to fix the anti-vaxx problem overlooks two details.

One, right-wing media actively sabotaged the sense of solidarity that was starting to form in the first month or so, seemingly on purpose. In the US, compassion and responsibility are divisive concepts, and not naturally so.

1/2

Show threadPteryx the Puzzle SecretaryMay 28, 2025

@Daojoan Two, there is a difference between the COVID vaccines and something like the polio or MMR vaccines: it's not a perfect preventative, often simply making an infection less severe (I've experienced that myself!). That breeds skepticism over whether it's "real", especially in the context of conspiracy theories that COVID is "just a cold" and not deadly, which I recall predating the existence of the vaccine that made it like that.

2/2

Show threadDreyMay 28, 2025
@Daojoan - Excellent story. It looks like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has skipped putting the batteries in the Measles alarm. This growth of ignoring this disease is in his hands only. Our history will never be erased for the damage this person has done to the safety of our country and now in Canada.
Show threadLooking for explanations…May 28, 2025

@Daojoan

Yes, although “herd immunity” is no guarantee for the 2%, just a way of reducing risk for those who can’t be immunised for any reason, such as very young babies.

Show threadEstarriol, Terrorist DragonMay 28, 2025
@Daojoan it means the people who cannot have the vaccine for immunospressant and other medical reasons are covered because the problem cannot get into the herd.
Show threadlemgandiMay 28, 2025
@Daojoan Just got my new MMR shot after a serum test. I am 68.
Show threadRobin BartonMay 28, 2025
@Daojoan True, but this also a failure of governments that refuse to make vaccine compulsory for all children.