Comment on Dr. Dan Stock’s Testimony before the Mt. Vernon School Board by Sean Pitman.
Sure, the Delta Variant of COVID-19 has reduced the ability of the current mRNA vaccines to make someone resistant to infection. However, recent research doesn’t appear to support your conclusions:
According to the results from the Imperial-led REACT-1 study based on swab tests taken by almost 100,000 people in England between 24 June and 12 July, specifically dealing with the Delta Variant of COVID-19 (Link).
“Fully vaccinated people… had around a 50% to 60% reduced risk of infection, including asymptomatic infection, compared to unvaccinated people. In addition, double vaccinated people were less likely than unvaccinated people to test positive after coming into contact with someone who had COVID-19 (3.84% vs 7.23%)… The study’s… results also suggest that fully vaccinated people may be less likely than unvaccinated people to pass the virus on to others, due to having a smaller viral load on average and therefore likely shedding less virus.”
This is on top of the dramatically reduced risks of hospitalization and death for those who are fully vaccinated (more than 95% of those who are being hospitalized and/or dying of COVID-19 right now, within a given age range, are unvaccinated).
So, not only is it very advantageous to a particular person to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19, even when it comes to the current “variants of interest”, such as the Delta Variant, in particular, it also appears to be helpful in reducing the transmission of COVID-19 and it’s current variants. I’d call that very “effective” – and so would the vast majority of doctors and medical scientists. Of course, if your definition of “effective” is absolute perfection, well, you’ll be waiting a while for sure. Until then, I would strongly advise you and everyone else who has access to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible.
As an aside, you seem to question the reported death rates and how COVID-19 deaths are counted. If anything, however, the COVID deaths in this country have been underreported. How can I possibly say this? Because, the overall “all-cause” death rate in this country spiked back in March of 2020 way way above background levels. What on Earth caused such a spike in the all-cause death rate at this time? – a spike in deaths that goes well beyond what has been directly attributed to COVID-19? If not for the COVID-19 pandemic, what else has killed off more than 600,000 people so far in this country alone (3.9 million worldwide)? – beyond what would usually be expected? (Link)
Sean Pitman Also Commented
Dr. Dan Stock’s Testimony before the Mt. Vernon School Board
When someone tells you what the actual numbers are, it doesn’t matter one lick what adjectives they use to describe those numbers. There’s just no deception going on here – unless you’re an absolute idiot. The very same number might mean different emotional things to different people. So, for you to say that the CDC is “exaggerating” things for the purpose of “fear-mongering” is absolute nonsense. They gave you the actual numbers man. You can decide for yourself if a childhood death rate of 0.06% is “huge” or not. For me, the death of even one child is “huge” – particularly if that child happened to be my child.
Anyway, if this is the best you’ve got, please, you’re wasting my time.
Dr. Dan Stock’s Testimony before the Mt. Vernon School Board
Oh please. You’re just being ridiculous at this point. Why waste my time like this?
The comment of the CDC director that 400 of 600,000 total deaths due to COVID-19 (0.06%) were children dying of COVID-19 – is an accurate comment! Hello! Sure, it is rare for a child to die of COVID-19, but it’s not like it never happens. It does happen! And, every single time it happens, it’s a tragedy.
Now, does this mean that it’s a clear-cut decision to vaccinate children under 12? No. That’s not a clear-cut decision given this information alone. One must determine his/her own risk/reward ratio here. For me, personally, I’m leaning toward vaccinating my own 12- and 10-year-old boys because of the long-term effects for many more children who get infected by COVID-19 but don’t die.
Anyway, if anyone is exaggerating and “flying off the handle” here, I’m sorry, but it’s you… not the CDC.
Dr. Dan Stock’s Testimony before the Mt. Vernon School Board
You wrote:
Now we are getting somewhere.
Thank you for finally conceding that childhood covid deaths are rare…thus the fear-mongering of such for the last year was just that. Although the CDC, media and government health experts continue to say otherwise…you at least have conceded rare is in fact rare and for the time being appear to disagree with the CDC.
I’ve always said that childhood COVID deaths are rare – as has the CDC, the mainstream media, and government health experts. There simply is no disagreement on this point. Where you came up with this claim of yours, I have no idea?
For example, here’s a comment from CDC article from January 2021 noting that the COVID-19 death rate in children is very rare:
“Among cases reviewed, data were available for 41.9%, 8.9%, and 49.1% of cases for hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and deaths, respectively. Among children, adolescents, and young adults with available data for these outcomes, 30,229 (2.5%) were hospitalized, 1,973 (0.8%) required ICU admission, and 654 (<0.1%) died."
So, I have no idea where you are getting your notions or accusations of “incompetence”? While I may not always agree with the conclusions of the CDC, FDA, or other government health agencies, they are by no means nearly as guilty of incompetence as you make them out to be. You, on the other hand, don’t seem to have a clue what you’re talking about here.
As far as the “logic” of your other claims, well, they’re pretty much all in the same boat as far as I can tell…
Recent Comments by Sean Pitman
Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership
I think that there can be a reasonable combination of the best of modern medicine as well as the best of healthful living and natural remedies such as exercise, sunlight, vitamin D, “forest bathing”, good sleep, vegan or at least a vegetarian diet, etc…
Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership
You opted not to get vaccinated during the pandemic, for whatever reason, but did not advise others to do the same. That’s fine. I think you probably increased your own risk a bit, but that’s far better than giving medical advice to others when you don’t know for sure that you’re right – especially for those who were at higher risk than you. It’s also good that you supported others who did choose to get vaccinated.
As far as SDA hospitals and organizations, I agree that there has been some drift from the ideal. I’m not happy that so many non-SDAs are hired to work in and to be leaders. I’m also disappointed that there isn’t a lot more emphasis, direction, and teaching with regard to healthful living. There are some who are doing this, like Dr. Roger Seheult. However, there does seem to be a lack of an organized or official emphasis on how to living healthful so as to avoid having to use so many medications for chronic conditions that are largely self-inflicted. Now, I do sympathize that quick fixed and pills are what most patients want. Most doesn’t want to give up their back health habits, so doctors often just give up and give their patients what they want. Still, this does not excuse the lack of effort along these lines in our hospitals and medical schools. Also, more should be done to spread the Gospel Message in our hospitals as well…
Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership
Thank you for your kind words and support. I really appreciate it very much!
Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership
I’m fine with open dialogue, but that includes presenting and at least understanding things from the GC’s perspective and why the significant majority of SDAs and GC delegates believe that the GC did the right thing during the pandemic and with the original 2015 statement on vaccines.
Conrad Vine Continues to Attack Church Leadership
So, it’s impossible to be a doctor who promotes the best of modern medicine as well as the best natural remedies and still be a follower of Jesus? Really? Not even Ellen White could be saved then…
