The strongest argument for COVID vaccine mandates has been that it’s not only about protecting one’s self. By getting vaccinated, the thinking has been, we reduce the chances of spreading infection to others and contribute to the broader battle against the virus.
But new evidence is strong that vaccinations do not reduce transmission by those who have been vaccinated.
A new study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal, examined 168 countries and 2,947 counties in the United States and concluded that higher vaccination rates are not associated with fewer COVID cases. The study is summarized here.
“At the country-level, there appears to be no discernable relationship between percentage of population fully vaccinated and new COVID-19 cases in the last 7 days,” the researchers concluded. “In fact, the trend line suggests a marginally positive association such that countries with higher percentage of population fully vaccinated have higher COVID-19 cases per 1 million people.” (Emphasis added.)
At the county level, the researchers said, there “also appears to be no significant signaling of COVID-19 cases decreasing with higher percentages of population fully vaccinated.”
The San Francisco Chronicle recently noted that California has some of the lowest COVID-19 case rates in the US, even though the state’s vaccination rate is lower than in many other states in worse shape. Same for some other states.
“One clear example is the New England states of Vermont and Maine,” says the Chronicle. It goes on:
"Like California, many New England states have also been known for their pandemic rigor. Five of New England’s six states have the highest vaccination rates in the country, with Vermont topping the list at 70% of its total population fully vaccinated. California’s rate is lower at 59%.
And yet in states like Maine and Vermont, which had long staved off the worst of the pandemic, the delta variant has latched onto unvaccinated pockets. Maine, with a vaccination rate just under Vermont’s at 69%, has been struggling the hardest in the region, breaking its single-day record in daily new cases last week. Its most recent case rate was 44 per 100,000 residents."
One scientist speaking out about the new evidence is Stanford Professor Jay Bhattacharya, who put the question simply: “So what is the argument for mandates?”
It is incumbent on those who are imposing mandates — Illinois and federal politicians and health authorities, as well as private sector companies — to answer that question.
One contrary argument might be that the general public’s interest, as opposed to just those who are vaccinated, is still served if mandates keep hospital admissions low. On the other hand, staffing shortages are being worsened by those quitting over the mandates, as recently detailed in Newsweek.
I am not claiming to answer the question here, but it must be asked. Reporters need to start asking the question, and those imposing the mandates should be expected to put up their evidence and reasoning. What is the argument for mandates?
Put it up or drop the mandates.
Please keep in mind that this is not an anti-vax message. One thing experts and the data seem to agree on is that vaccines do significantly reduce the chances of hospitalization or death if a vaccinated person gets infected. But the issue is whether the vax helps protect others. If it doesn’t, the primary rationale for mandates is gone, making COVID vaccination a matter properly left to individual choice.
Editor's note: This article was originally published at Wirepoints.org.