Darwin Awards are on me.
COVID is now killing just those who are too stupid, stubborn or Trump loving to get vaccinated.
Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now are in people who weren’t vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of how effective the shots have been and an indication that deaths per day — now down to under 300 — could practically zero if everyone eligible got the vaccine.
I hate to see people dying due to their stupidity but this is nothing new in epidemics. For over a hundred years, the primary obstacle in ending an epidemic has not been the bacteria or virus that causes the disease but the public who refuse to take preventive measures or treatments. The major reasons for this are:
Lack of access, real or perceived
Not being seen as a threat
Fear of Side effects of vaccines or treatment
Lack of trust in the preventive measure or treatments
Lack of trust in institutions such as goverment agencies and private companies
A variety of conspiracy theories
The most educational countries general attain compliance between 60% and 80% of population usually within a few years. However the least educated countries which are typically in Africa and South America, this level of compliance can take many years and in some cases are never reached. Taking literary license of the biblical verse; "You will always have the stupid with you"
I disagree.
I don't think there has ever been much of any resistance to taking preventive measures or treatment.
In fact, historically people have desperately taken all sorts of quack cures or preventives that can be more dangerous than the actual illness.
The problem instead I think is that "flattening the curve" is not one the preventive measures or treatments, and instead is the most irresponsible and deadly course of action possible.
By slowing down infection rates but still allowing them to be greater than 1, you accomplish nothing but maximizing the death total.
There are only 2 choices normally, and both are quick.
If the pathogen is very deadly, then you instantly quarantine and quickly kill it off.
If the pathogen is not very deadly, then you accelerate infection among the healthy, to quickly kill it off.