Anti-vaxxers' arguments

[andrewalston]

A good explanation of typical reasoning used by those avoiding vaccination on More of Less (the shorter, World Service, edition).

You can hear it at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09rkn2z

The argument goes that if (numbers made up just now!) there are two people in hospital who are not vaccinated, and three who are vaccinated, then vaccination must be 50% more dangerous.

However, if there are 10 people unvaccinated people in the population, and 100 vaccinated people, then the hospitalisation rate is 3% in the vaccinated population, and 20% in the refusers.

[BushInn1746]

A good explanation of typical reasoning used by those avoiding vaccination on More of Less (the shorter, World Service, edition).

You can hear it at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09rkn2z

The argument goes that if (numbers made up just now!) there are two people in hospital who are not vaccinated, and three who are vaccinated, then vaccination must be 50% more dangerous.

However, if there are 10 people unvaccinated people in the population, and 100 vaccinated people, then the hospitalisation rate is 3% in the vaccinated population, and 20% in the refusers.

UK Government deaths figures are regularly published (a few weeks behind) of those aged over 50 and those under 50 admitted to hospital who were vaccinated and unvaccinated.

To compare the two figures with each other, you would need exactly 50% vaccinated and 50% unvaccinated in the population, in those age groups.

Mark

[groom]

Well apparently, according to a friend, she said her son has read on FB that having the vaccine makes a certain part of the male anatomy shrink! 

[ReadyDale]

Well apparently, according to a friend, she said her son has read on FB that having the vaccine makes a certain part of the male anatomy shrink! 

Well, if it said that on FB it MUST be right. 

[mazi]

Mazi has gone to find her magnifying glass to see if it’s true.

I am hiding 

Mike

[Nanna52]

It all comes down to interpretation of the statistics.  We all know that you can interpret them many different ways, hence the saying:
There are lies, damn lies and statistics.

[Maiden Stone]

"More or Less" is an excellent programme. Of course, I would say that, wouldn't I, since it's on "mainstream" media" and I've probably been brainwashed since birth. My mother couldn't afford tinfoil to make me a hat.
I've been looking at some anti-vaxxer misrepresentations of statistics. As a faithful listener to "More or Less" I understood that statistics in the tables didn't show what was claimed by the author. Some articles are from a UK-based website to which "Newsguard" has given a red "Proceed with caution" rating. Reading the full assessment of the website: "This website severely violates basic journalistic standards. .... A website that has repeatedly published false or misleading claims about COVID-19 pandemic and Covid-19 vaccines ..." It got a credibility score of 7.5 out of 100. A linked article on the same website tells me that a simple cure is in my kitchen cupboard. 

[KGarrad]

Some anti-vaxxers claim that the vaccine turns people into zombies!
Mimicing the script of the film "I Am Legend".

One of the screenwriters gas had to deny the rumour!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58164833

[sarah]

Well apparently, according to a friend, she said her son has read on FB that having the vaccine makes a certain part of the male anatomy shrink!

He read that wrong, it is the possible effect of having covid that can cause the problem.