Omicron. A blessing in disguise?

[GeoffH]

10 hours ago, earthdome said:

But if the omicron cases are mild in comparison to the previous variants. Who cares whether the vaccine protects you or not.

Any one over 60 (healthy or not) should still be concerned in my opinion... even if Omicron is less dangerous than Delta (and we really don't have proof that it is) then it's still going to be more dangerous than seasonal flu.

Delta is about 2 orders of magnitude more dangerous than seasonal influenza (call it 100 times for the non-maths geeks) so even if Omicron is 10 times less dangerous than Delta it's still going to be about 10 times more dangerous than the flu to us older people.

Many of us get a flu vaccination each year anyway and I'd prefer to be able to do the same for Covid (there are trials of combined covid/flu vaccines underway already).


One can care about this stuff (ie be careful) without panicking (in the same way I do up my seatbelt in the car... doesn't mean I'm scared of having a crash when I drive off, I'm just being careful).

 

 

Edited December 11, 2021 by GeoffH

[jimeve]

1 hour ago, GeoffH said:

One can care about this stuff (ie be careful) without panicking (in the same way I do up my seatbelt in the car... doesn't mean I'm scared of having a crash when I drive off, I'm just being careful).

Don't forget your crash helmet.LOL

 

[GeoffH]

19 minutes ago, jimeve said:

Don't forget your crash helmet.LOL

I was talking about the car not the motorbike... but I do wear a helmet on the motorbike (the police in CDO will stop and fine you if you don't).

[jimeve]

1 hour ago, GeoffH said:

I was talking about the car not the motorbike... but I do wear a helmet on the motorbike (the police in CDO will stop and fine you if you don't).

I know I was looking at your profile photo when I posted.

[earthdome]

12 hours ago, GeoffH said:

Any one over 60 (healthy or not) should still be concerned in my opinion... even if Omicron is less dangerous than Delta (and we really don't have proof that it is) then it's still going to be more dangerous than seasonal flu.

You contradict yourself in the same sentence. You state there is no proof then assert that it's still going to be more dangerous than seasonal flu.

 

[GeoffH]

6 minutes ago, earthdome said:

You contradict yourself in the same sentence. You state there is no proof then assert that it's still going to be more dangerous than seasonal flu.

 

I used “even if” as a conditional clause referring to whether or not it was less dangerous than Delta… not if it was more dangerous than the flu.

There is some preliminary data indicating some reduction in severity… that might be as much as an order of magnitude (if it is proven to exist).

There is no evidence of a reduction of 2 orders of magnitude (which is what it would take for it to be no more severe than the flu).

 

So not a contradiction… just a cut down explanation relating to the math.

[earthdome]

19 minutes ago, GeoffH said:

I used “even if” as a conditional clause referring to whether or not it was less dangerous than Delta… not if it was more dangerous than the flu.

There is some preliminary data indicating some reduction in severity… that might be as much as an order of magnitude (if it is proven to exist).

There is no evidence of a reduction of 2 orders of magnitude (which is what it would take for it to be no more severe than the flu).

 

So not a contradiction… just a cut down explanation relating to the math.

Just keep moving those goal posts.

[GeoffH]

1 minute ago, earthdome said:

Just keep moving those goal posts.

That’s how science works you know…

 

[earthdome]

11 minutes ago, GeoffH said:

That’s how science works you know…

 

No, science is about hypothesizing then developing tests to prove/disprove them. If proven, being subject to additional testing which may disprove or modify the original hypothesis.

moving the goal posts is "To alter the rules or parameters of a situation in such a way as to suit one's needs or objectives, making it more difficult for someone else to succeed, keep pace, or achieve an opposing objective."

[Dave Hounddriver]