The combination of vaccine availability and people beginning to book hotel spaces for next summer indicate a hopeful recovery from the pandemic in the third or fourth quarter of 2021 as discussed in the New York Times article "Politics Science and the Remarkable Race for Coronavirus Vaccine."
The death rates and hospitalization rates of countries like Singapore, despite having the Omicron variant of the virus, remain very low. As we have accepted a much smaller weekly death rate rather than losing a million people a year, we need to recognize the virus's power to cause pain and should focus on updated vaccines to protect against it.
The one-sided approach to COVID-19 vaccines reveals a lack of understanding of the hyper mutability of the virus and the need for more funding towards the development of the next generation of vaccines. However, societal isolation has impacted progress in the field.
In this episode, the faulty thinking around rapid tests is discussed, as well as how big money is driving this thinking. The conversation focuses on how empowering people with more information could take power away from those in charge, which is causing concern from public health officials who want to control the data.
Many Californians are afraid of being canceled if they get vaccinated due to the idea that they are taking a slot away from someone else. This fear has led to some individuals hacking vaccination websites to get vaccinated faster, leaving the unvaccinated as a potential breeding ground for the virus.
California's recall is allegedly due to the failed vaccine rollout, testing, and ad hoc lockdown rules, which have angered many people. Jason, one of the major players in tech and a Californian resident, has a problem with authority.