https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/us-pfizer-fda-approval-1.6149959

Excerpts:

"The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, a milestone that may help lift public confidence in the shots as the nation battles the most contagious coronavirus variant yet.

"The vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, now carries the strongest endorsement from the Food and Drug Administration, which has never before had so much evidence to judge a shot's safety.

"More than 200 million Pfizer doses already have been administered in the U.S. — and hundreds of millions more worldwide — since emergency use began in December.

"The public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product," said acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock. "Today's milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S."

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This is an example of the scientific process in action, developing, testing and applying the best practices and knowledge at hand to a daunting problem and developing a life-saving solution, in this case a beneficial vaccine.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a topic discussed frequently on this board lately and some ask why it's relevant to RfM. In my view it's because it's good to debate the pros and cons of an issue, an art some may be new at due to the stifling of debate within many religious groups, including Mormonism where nobody ever wants to hear your opinion on the best place to go for a good cup of coffee, never mind the major choices one has to make in life. Also, because the scientific method isn't much utilized in many religious matters or beliefs and so it is doubtless unfamiliar to many adherents of such faiths which makes it something of value to learn in order to get the full picture on things. Too, the pandemic is of major general interest in that it's taken over our lives in many ways for 18+ months now so it's hard to ignore.

And because some of the most prominent of the vaccine-resistant, vaccine-hesitant or anti-vaccine folks that read and post here have declared that their primary reason for not taking the vaccinations recommended and offered is that the vaccines do not have FDA approval ("only" EUA status).

Now, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been granted FDA approval.

So, the ball's in your court now, those who were holding out for that. I really hope you will book your vaccine appointment asap or maybe there's a walk-in clinic you can find in your neighbourhood where they will welcome you. By getting the vaccination you can help to stop the spread of a virulent strain of a communicable disease.

It really distresses me to see all the comments about how the mortality rate is "only" some small percentage that is apparently insignificant to those using the "only" word. But even small percentages of big numbers are big numbers, translating into millions of deaths.

Maybe many of us were accustomed to not asking questions because in the Mormon Church, and others, obedience is expected/demanded, questions are discouraged and we got used to stifling ourselves rather than speaking out no matter the circumstance. And maybe some vow they will never again knuckle under to "authority". Understandable but likely self-defeating and even anti-social.

If a person who has left an authoritarian religion doesn't easily trust authorities any more or feels confused and doesn't know who or how to trust again or if, understandably, they hate, despise, reject all the teachings, I hope at least they can still care about others (Golden Rule), even those they don't know and will never meet. Getting the vaccine is a bonus thing - you help yourself but you also help others. It's a good feeling. Plus you will then be unlikely to die from a preventable condition.

If you were only holding out for FDA approval, here it is today.

Wonderful!

(This is wonderful-for-everyone news.)

Thank you, Nightingale!

The anti-vaxxers will change from "the vaccines are experimental, and not approved" to "the approval was faked and politically mandated" without missing a beat.

I sure hope not but fear you may be correct. But maybe this will nudge at least some previously hesitant people to go ahead and take the plunge.

And it's one less argument resistant folks can make with any seriousness.

Yep. Watch the contortions, it’ll be as good as Cirque de Soleil.

Yep. The goal posts have wheels on them.

And they're powered by afterburners.

Soccer goals, not football ones, have wheels.

They're off the map now.

Former President told his Alabama rally crowd to get the vaccine, that he got it, and that it was good.

They booed and jeered him! They don't want it be safe, good, etc.

And as one commenter tweeted...(paraphrasing) their reaction proves they don't love him, they just hate the rest of us!

Yep, the sorcerer's apprentice has lost control of the brooms.

the boos were not particularly hostile. They had more of a "yeah, right" vibe to them, at least to my ear.

Sorcerer’s Apprentice is just right.

I will give up all hope for our collective sanity if people still reject the proven science-based route and go with the actively non-recommended dewormer.

I will finally fully comprehend, and have to accept, that these decisions are not based on rational thinking.

From there to here has been painful. Because logic.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/23/2021 03:51PM by Nightingale.

Denial is based on irrationality and fear, not rationality and fact.

Disinformation is permission, not persuasion. That's why facts don't matter and why, when presented with new facts, the argument switches to a different reason. So while some people who claim that COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous may really believe that nonsense, most who say these things do not. What they believe is that truth does not matter.

We don’t really know how Joseph Smith created the Book of Abraham. Since what Joseph wrote is completely different from what was on the papyri, it only shows the power and mystery of God. In the end, the BoA is true because Joe said it was. All that’s needed is to twist the facts until the desired belief is achieved.

I have an ex colleague who is full rabbit hole anti vaxx, anti mask, big lie crazy. Which is a bit sad because she is actually a nice person, just a bit lost and lonely I feel. She certainly was not this way prior to 2016.

Anyway, the pivot she is posting is -

'every harmful medication pulled from clinical use in the US was given previously FDA approval, why is this any different?'

Moving goalposts are indeed very hard to hit.