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Trust in vaccines vital to halting pandemic, warns WHO

A vaccine won’t be able to stop Covid-19 if people are reluctant to take it, a top WHO expert has said.

AS THE WORLD celebrates advances in vaccines against the novel coronavirus, a top WHO expert has warned in an interview with AFP that public distrust risked rendering even the most effective treatments useless against the pandemic.

“A vaccine that sits in a freezer or in a refrigerator or on a shelf and doesn’t get used is doing nothing to help shorten this pandemic,” said Kate O’Brien, director of the World Health Organization’s immunisation department.

US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech announced Monday that their prospective vaccine had proven 90 percent effective in preventing Covid-19 infections in ongoing final phase trials involving more than 40,000 people.

O’Brien hailed the interim results as “extremely important”, and voiced hope that preliminary data from a handful of other candidate vaccines in similarly advanced trials would come through soon.

If the complete data show that “one or more of these vaccines has very, very substantial efficacy, that is really good news for putting another tool in the toolbox” for fighting the pandemic, she said.

But with the pandemic continuing to surge after already claiming some 1.3 million lives, she voiced deep concern at growing signs of vaccine hesitancy, with misinformation and mistrust colouring people’s acceptance of scientific advances.

“We are not going to be successful as a world in controlling the pandemic with the use of vaccines as one of the tools unless people are willing to get vaccinated,” O’Brien said.

More needed to be done to boost public “confidence in the fact that the vaccines that WHO is involved in evaluating, we will not be compromising on safety or efficacy,” she said.

O’Brien acknowledged that there were a number of outstanding questions about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine candidate and its peers, including how long protection against the virus would last.

And while the vaccine candidates are being tested for how effectively and safely they protect people from developing the disease, it remains unclear whether they actually avert asymptomatic infection and transmission of the virus.

A big question, she said, is: “does it change your likelihood of transmitting to anybody else?”

Despite the remaining questions, the WHO is betting on one or more vaccines winning approval soon, followed by a rapid scale-up of production and distribution.

Anticipating the huge demand for any approved vaccine, the UN health agency has helped create the so-called Covax facility to ensure equitable distribution.

But even with gargantuan efforts, it will take a while before there are enough doses for everyone, and the WHO has set out guidelines for how to prioritise the distribution.

“The goal here is that every country should be able to immunise 20 percent of their population by the end of 2021,” O’Brien said.

That, she said, would go a long way to providing protection to healthcare workers and the most vulnerable populations, as well as those essential to keeping societies running, like teachers.

After that, how quickly everyone else could access a vaccine would largely depend on which country they live in, and whether their government had made deals to access vaccines that obtain approval.

“We would expect many more doses in 2022,” O’Brien said.

Meanwhile, the logistical challenges of getting approved vaccines out to billions who need it are daunting, from manufacturing to ensuring the transportation and storage at the extremely low temperatures some of the candidates require.

“A vaccine that is highly efficacious and is safe… still is only valuable for a public health impact if it actually gets to the people that it needs to protect and is used widely in populations,” O’Brien said.

Developing a safe and effective vaccine “is like establishing base camp at Everest,” she said.

“But actually getting to the impact of vaccines is (like) having to climb Everest.”

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    Mute Dave Phelan
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:05 AM

    There is a risk crossing the road. I will be first in the queue to get the vaccine. It will be interesting to see how many anti vaccine people get Covid . A vaccine will enable us to get back to a more normal life. Bring it on

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    Mute JimmyMc
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:41 AM

    @Dave Phelan: that’s how it should work-the people who want to try it should get it first.

    138
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    Mute DK
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:53 AM

    @Dave Phelan: Yeah I don’t get it really, the ones who seem to be most against the lockdowns are also the ones against the vaccines. The irony is that the vaccines are out best chance to finally put the coronavirus and lockdowns behind usfor good. I’d be hopeful that there will be a high take up in the vaccine, particular the vulnerable category. Some older people might be hesitant to take at first but I think GPs should be a key part of advising their patients of the vaccines safety.

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    Mute Eugene Conroy
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:08 AM

    @JimmyMc: the Internet is yours for the day

    5
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    Mute Keith Manning
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:52 AM

    @DK: I do get this. They are anti-establishment primarily. They just go against the norm because they want to be heard. I guarantee you if you flip the script with the government saying covid is no big deal they would be wearing masks and urging people to social distance.

    There is no weight in what they say because they will always flow against the norm and towards fantasy. Everything is a dan browne book to them.

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    Mute Gere
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    Nov 14th 2020, 11:25 AM

    @JimmyMc: I agree with you Jimmy. We all have different opinions which we are entitled to. Those that want the vaccine should get it first if that is what they want, but they should stop putting people down for having a different opinion.

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    Mute D Mems
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    Nov 14th 2020, 12:34 PM

    @Gere: the issue is that there are those who for medical reasons are unable to take any vaccine, not just a covid one, and they have to rely upon others being vaccinated to mitigate the spread of the virus to them. Vaccines don’t just protect you, they can protect all those you come into contact with. You need about 75% of people vaccinated to provide community protection.
    https://theconversation.com/what-is-herd-immunity-and-how-many-people-need-to-be-vaccinated-to-protect-a-community-116355

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    Mute John Purcell
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    Nov 14th 2020, 1:20 PM

    @Dave Phelan: never underestimate the power of stu pid people in large groups

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Nov 14th 2020, 1:27 PM

    @DK: It appears to be some sort of cognitive impairment. It’s no coincidence that anti-vaxxers are also more likely to believe other conspiracy theories. This study was done last year, before the current pandemic. https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/blog/apa-conspiracy-study
    Piers Corbyn (Jeremy’s brother) was until last year one of Twitter’s most vapid climate deniers, but has now set his focus on Covid denial, anti-mask and anti-vax. If you look through his followers you see the same thing over and over. Climate conspiracy theorists who became Covid conspiracy theorists.

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    Mute Alan Gee
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    Nov 14th 2020, 2:40 PM

    @DK: thats right. do u think that it ought to be mandated ? would that solve the problem?

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    Mute Alan Gee
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    Nov 14th 2020, 2:42 PM

    @Tommy Roche: there are so many of them too. Something is not right.

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    Mute Gere
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    Nov 14th 2020, 4:02 PM

    @D Mems: I understand that, but as I said, people are entitled to make up their own minds on this. They should not be bullied into going along with the crowd. It has to be a personal choice. It probably would be helpful, if the vaccine companies declared that they will pick up the cost for anyone that has a bad reaction to their product and not the governments. It is about getting the trust of the people. You cannot demand someone do something just because you personally feel it is right for them, you have to be open & honest. That is one of the reasons people are sceptical that there is even a virus, because the government/NPHET/Media all sing from the same hymn sheet & will not allow any debate on the subject. If you are asking people to trust you, you also have to show the pros & cons to them. That is what a normal democracy is about.

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    Mute Tony Ember
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:24 AM

    The only immunity the vaccines gives is to the manufacturer, immunity from prosecution for a flawed product. Of course people won’t trust a vaccine when the manufacturers are not held responsible for its flaws.

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    Mute Isabella Hickey
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:54 AM

    @Tony Ember: 100%

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    Mute Ron Kingston
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    Nov 14th 2020, 12:50 PM

    @Tony Ember: are you a doctor or a scientist? Or someone who has DOne hIS oWn Reeeesurch

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Nov 14th 2020, 1:39 PM

    @Tony Ember: And that’s the only immunity a vaccine gives ? Seriously ?

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    Mute Pauline Gallagher
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    Nov 14th 2020, 5:28 PM

    @Tony Ember: How many people do you know who have died or been left disabled by polio? zero. If it was 70 years ago, you would know at least one.

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    Mute Caoimhín
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    Nov 14th 2020, 8:53 AM

    tHeY sHoUlD tEsT iT oN tHe pOlITiCiaNs.

    191
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    Mute D Mems
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:07 AM

    @Caoimhín: and you should learn how to use the shift key appropriately on your keyboard

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    Mute Caoimhín
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:15 AM

    @D Mems: Yet you have made mistakes in your reply.

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    Mute mark daly
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:31 AM

    @Caoimhín: They should test the bleach on you and see if it works.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:12 AM

    @Caoimhín: but he has indeed mastered the shift key. As have most of the rest of the world.

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    Mute The Upside-down Triangle
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    Nov 14th 2020, 11:51 AM

    @D Mems: I don’t think you are aware but mixing capital letters with lower case letters translates to sarcasm in the internet world.

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    Mute HuffnPuff
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    Nov 14th 2020, 1:31 PM

    @The Upside-down Triangle: really?

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    Mute The Upside-down Triangle
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    Nov 14th 2020, 1:37 PM

    @HuffnPuff: yes I’ve seen it alot online, YouTube, TikTok etc

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    Mute D Mems
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    Nov 14th 2020, 2:36 PM

    @The Upside-down Triangle: as someone who has worked in IT for 23 years that’s the 1st I’ve heard of that. Is that a thing now?

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    Mute The Upside-down Triangle
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    Nov 14th 2020, 3:05 PM

    @D Mems: yes, I see it alot on TikTok over the last few months, like everything prob started by Gen Z kids in the States. For instance if you wanted to make fun of a Trump supporter you would post “dEmOcRAtS rIgGeD tHe eLeTiON”. Suggesting they have stupid views essentially.

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    Mute Caoimhín
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:07 PM

    @D Mems: It’s sarcasm.

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    Mute LD
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:02 AM

    Maybe stop giving outright indemnity to the producers then!

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    Mute Isabella Hickey
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:53 AM

    @LD: exactly!

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    Mute Fr.Todd Unctious
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:00 AM

    Unfortunately people put more trust in the nonsense they read on Facebook.

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:23 AM

    How very dare the pesky scientists come up with a ‘rushed vaccine’ that could put an end to this global pandemic. Can they not at least wait until 2050 ?

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    Mute William King
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    Nov 14th 2020, 11:41 AM

    @Francis Mc Carthy: very good, you need to go to sarcasmaholics anonymous.

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    Mute Shem
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:25 AM

    Personally, I’m glad they developed the vaccine. The development gives hope to be back to some sort normality in a few months time. I’ll be getting it.

    76
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    Mute JMcB
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:30 AM

    The same WHO that refused to declare this a pandemic as this virus swept across China and Asia last January and February is now recommending we all put faith in these vacancies and horse them into us in order to stop the spread of this pandemic. I might risk putting faith in the new vaccines but WHO can jog on as far as I am concerned

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    Mute D Mems
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    Nov 14th 2020, 2:44 PM

    @JMcB: they refused to declare it a pandemic at that point because it didn’t meet the recognised definition of a pandemic, which requires global spread, not regional. They did declare it an epidemic at that time, and once it became intercontinental they redefined it as a pandemic, as it met the definition of such then.

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Nov 15th 2020, 2:08 AM

    @D Mems: The WHO replaced pandemic announcements with Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in 2005, a PHEIC has legal recognition.

    The WHO declared a PHEIC on 30th January 2020, 4 weeks after the WHO was first notified of the outbreak. It was the shortest time any of the 6 PHEICs was declared.

    “All countries should be prepared for containment, including active surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing and prevention of onward spread of 2019-nCoV infection, and to share full data with WHO.”

    https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/covid-19-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern-(pheic)-global-research-and-innovation-forum

    The PHEIC announcement was made when the number of infections outside China stood at 82 but no deaths had yet occurred outside China.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_cases_in_January_2020

    The declaration of a pandemic on March 11 was just a statement about what stage the outbreak was at, it had no further practical effect. While it made the general public pay attention, Governments should have been increasing their preparations since Jan 30th, the were legally obligated to do so.

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    Mute Munster1
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:14 AM

    Get some celebrities to sell it to less than intelligent people

    87
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    Mute John Dublin
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:18 AM

    @Munster1: Excellent idea. More people listen to the Kardashians these days than listen to scientists.

    58
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    Mute Tom Bombdadil
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:36 AM

    @John Dublin: many scientists agree and many also disagree with vaccines, not saying either is right or wrong but there are arguments for both sides.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:13 AM

    @Tom Bombdadil: using the word “many” sounds so trumpian these days.

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    Mute JedBartlett
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:29 AM

    @Paul Furey: And those who use ‘Trumpian’ or ‘gem bots’ immediately lose any argument. These are easy words to throw out but they just serve to highlight the fact that you’re not willing or able to engage in a rational adult debate.

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    Mute flexfinn
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    Nov 14th 2020, 11:29 AM

    @Tom Bombdadil: the majority agree and a minority disagree

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    Mute William King
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    Nov 14th 2020, 11:42 AM

    @John Dublin: they had Elvis to promote the polio vaccine I believe

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    Mute Alan
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    Nov 14th 2020, 12:43 PM

    @William King: yeah I heard it stopped a whole lotta shakin goin on.

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    Mute The only INFP in Ireland
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:55 AM

    I think people would trust vaccines more if the manufacturers were held accountable for any side effects suffered by people. There’s huge pressure from everyone to get vaccines but if something goes wrong, no one wants to know and that’s not right.

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    Mute Kieran Hayes
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:42 AM

    Remember all those crazy conspiracy theorists got it so wrong in March when they were saying there would be a vaccine by Christmas and people would be so fed up they would be screaming to take it. And also mentioned that it would basically be mandatory. How si-lly do they look now (sarcasm)??

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    Mute Tony Ember
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:41 AM

    The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at – 80 centigrade. There is no infrastructure to support such a logistical requirement. Countries would need to build huge specialised freezers to store the vaccines. On the other hand there are easy to use vaccines produced by Russia and China, but the EU has categorically rejected their vaccines. Why? Racism. Racism expressed as economic policy. Generalising Russia as bad, China as bad, is racist. Sadly the EU values its pride and its belief in its superiority more than the life and the lives of its citizens. The EU has become so oppressive that it is threatening to sanction Hungary for purchasing the Russian vaccine. It’s no wonder that people loose faith in a system that protects big business from failure, and denies citizens freedom of choice.

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    Mute Paddy Kennedy
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:56 AM

    @Tony Ember: Where did you hear they’re threatening to sanction Hungary?

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    Mute DJ François
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:26 AM

    Incoming tinfoilers in 3…2…1

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    Mute Jeremiah A Craic
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:34 AM

    @DJ François: You mean people who think for themselves?

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    Mute LD
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:38 AM

    @DJ François: You should try on one some day Francois, it will be a bit scary at first, having your own thoughts, you will be drawn back to avoid them at first but just sit with the discomfort of your own mind and when you come out the other side the freedom is immense.

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    Mute Isabella Hickey
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:55 AM

    @Jeremiah A Craic: correct

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    Mute Isabella Hickey
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:56 AM

    @LD:

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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:06 AM

    @Jeremiah A Craic: well, feel free as a free thinker to develop your own vaccine. I’ll stick with the amazing scientists. I’d have no doubt if you got cancer, God forbid, you would happily take chemo meds and place your trust in the medics. I will be kicking in the door of the pharmacy to get a vaccine. Long live science. The foundation of free thinking.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:14 AM

    @Jeremiah A Craic: based on Facebook science??? Good man.

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    Mute Eugene Conroy
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:16 AM

    @Paul Whitehead: those same scientists who developed the virus in the lab or maybe the ones that developed the thalomide drug bach in the 50s and 60s. No thank you

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    Mute DJ François
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:29 AM

    @Jeremiah A Craic: no, people who think they know more than they actually do, because of some rubbish they read on the Internet

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    Mute DJ François
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:30 AM

    @LD: such a tediously predictable comment.

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    Mute Vladimir Macro
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:31 AM

    @Paul Whitehead: you should read the cancer code by Dr Jason Fung

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    Mute Lily Martin
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:34 AM

    @Jeremiah A Craic: no one is arguing that they think for themselves, but their thoughts are not backed by tangible evidence or science. I propose the theory that tin foil worn on the head negatively impacts cognitive ability. This theory is not based on research or science but I thought of it so it must be true!

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    Mute Bee Bonthuys
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    Nov 14th 2020, 1:10 PM

    @Jeremiah A Craic: Why do people use the phrase “I think for myself” like it’s a justification for anything? They could imagine brain surgery but they wouldn’t be able to perform it – it’s not so much thinking for yourself as it believing what you read on Facebook.

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    Mute ShelfElf
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    Nov 14th 2020, 8:57 AM

    Did, did The Vaccine write this?

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    Mute Newto2016
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:31 AM

    Would it not make sense for only the elderly and vulnerable to get the vaccine? Like the flu vaccine, which is only recommended to certain groups by the HSE

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    Mute JimmyMc
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:48 AM

    @Newto2016: no. Everyone must take it so the developers can get a return on their investment

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    Mute niamh ryan
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:20 AM

    @Newto2016: everybody is recommended to get the flu vaccine. Its given free to vulnerable groups but recommended to everybody

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    Mute Newto2016
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:25 AM

    @niamh ryan: HSE website says: If You Are Over 65, Pregnant or if you are living with a Long Term Illness. Now is The Time to Get Your Flu Vaccine from Your GP or Pharmacist.

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    Mute Vladimir Macro
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:50 AM

    @niamh ryan: Everyone is recommended to maintain a healthy body weight and get regular exercise.

    It’s a recommendation.

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    Mute Ray Lawler
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    Nov 14th 2020, 11:33 AM

    The journal really pushing the covid vax this morning.

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    Mute Andrew Letcher
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    Nov 14th 2020, 9:03 AM

    Probably better to read nonsense on Fb than the opinions of thousands of experts on here.!

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    Mute Faded79
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    Nov 14th 2020, 12:42 PM

    Companies need to be held account for safety and it would ensure more buy in. If you were told a car had Only been through 75% of safety checks would you still buy it. The risks yes can be deemed minimal but you would be more likely to buy from a company who tested in a rigorous fashion. People will question and should do when we see issues arise from previous vaccines. That is caution and apprehension not being anti vax. Stop Putting others in boxes for raising their concerns. If someone is completely all vaccines are useless then that’s different.

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    Mute G Bot
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    Nov 14th 2020, 12:30 PM
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    Mute Tom Cullen
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    Nov 14th 2020, 2:59 PM

    @G Bot: You do realise almost 300,000 died from H1N1 before it was brought under control yeah? There is always going to be a reaction in extremely rare cases to any medication/vaccine. But the benefits far far outweigh the slim chance of negative side effects. I will absolutely put myself forward for a vaccine to mitigate the chances of me being contagious to others. For balance, if I was a woman trying for a child or expecting, I would have my reservations.

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    Mute Paul Kavanagh
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    Nov 14th 2020, 1:47 PM

    Everyone should have the decision whether or not to take the vaccine. Every country should have the right to insist on only allowing people who have taken the vaccine to travel there

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    Mute Alan Gee
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    Nov 14th 2020, 3:08 PM

    @Paul Kavanagh: would people have to carry have a Certificate of Vaccination along with ID too to prove they have been vaccinated?

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    Mute Edel Quinn
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    Nov 14th 2020, 10:28 AM

    I don’t need a vaccine, I’m going to continue injecting myself with Dettol. It’s worked so far. :-)

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    Mute billybigballs_1
    Favourite billybigballs_1
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    Nov 14th 2020, 1:54 PM

    @Edel Quinn: I take copious amounts of cocaine and Ecstasy every week. Mixed by a chap with no teeth. I’ll take any vaccine put in front of me. Sure what harm will the vaccine do ?

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    Mute William King
    Favourite William King
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    Nov 14th 2020, 11:40 AM

    I wonder how many antivaxers are actually just scared of needles?

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    Mute Jean Farrelly
    Favourite Jean Farrelly
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    Nov 14th 2020, 6:01 PM

    Ryan Turbity was promoting New World Order on RTE Six One last night. So I guess the tin foil hats got it right about NWO and RTE propaganda.

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    Mute William King
    Favourite William King
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    Nov 14th 2020, 11:46 AM

    mRNA technology in a vaccine is new but everything is new at one time
    Would you be surprised if this is the way to beat cancer one day,
    Remember where you read it first.

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    Mute leartius
    Favourite leartius
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    Nov 14th 2020, 12:28 PM

    It’s a very complicated disaster which no country could ever hope to defeat alone. Even when everyone gets these vaccines. Booster shots will be needed. Its not going to be a one injection then return to pre-covid 19 times.
    It’s virus mutation that could make vaccines redundant. Already we have seen the virus mutate in minks in Denmark. Only by destroying the entire mink population effected could this mutation be stopped. If another mutation happened say in cows in India. would it persist because cows are sacred animals.
    Living with this virus in necessary short term but we will never be free of its menacing presents. If another mutation happens only a organisation like WHO stand any chance of crushing. We may be winning today but until we rid ourselves of covid-19 nothing is certain.

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    Mute Faded79
    Favourite Faded79
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    Nov 14th 2020, 12:43 PM

    @leartius: there appears a real need to stop over breeding animals for commercial purpose

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