What do you suggest as an alternative? This is the current state of the science as far as Covid-19 is concerned. There will most definitely be different types of vaccines with longer lasting immunity [1] and anti-viral drugs [2] in the future but this is the best we have at this time.

[1] https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/emergex-trial-covid...

[2] https://www.npr.org/2021/12/06/1061902658/what-a-new-antivir...

And I know people who died from Covid, who'd be alive today if they'd took the vaccine.

But I did take the vaccine, twice. It gives me great anxiety to think about taking it again given what I have gone through. My situation improved significantly but I might not be so lucky next time. I shouldnt have to weigh up potential damage to my heart, versus my right to freedom of movement (im an expat).

Personally im holding out for Novavax now.

In the UK over 300 hundred thousand adverse events have been reported to the yellow card system, with over a 1000 deaths. I've heard that VAERS underreports because medical professionals don't have the time to make the submissions (I don't really know if that's true or not). It's impossible to confirm what the precise risks are and whether those reporting systems are over- or understating the real picture, but it's irresponsible, I think, to handwave about risks to someone who clearly had a bad response.

I know someone who had both the myocarditis as well as a severe allergic reaction, which could have been fatal if she hadn't received benadryl in time. After that, she was advised by her doctor to not get the 2nd shot. But because the social pressure being placed on people is so high, she is still minded to get the 2nd shot even when her own doctor advises against it. I don't think medical decisions should be swayed by peer pressure from people on the internet, or an employer.

The point about VAERS is that you do not need to be a medical professional to submit to VAERS. Joe Schmoe from down the lane can submit to VAERS and say the mRNA vaccine caused him to turn into the incredible hulk and it will be listed alongside people who had legitimate flu-like symptoms.

VAERS vastly over reports. Stuff like, I took the vaccine last week and now I have a broken leg (because I got hit by a car).

You have pretty large hands... For young men, it is about 1/10000 with the Moderna vaccine. No fatal cases AFAIK, but considering that we are talking about young men who are less likely to get severe covid, it is less than ideal. Benefit/risk is still good, but will it still be the case if we need a new dose every 6 months?

Anyways, for that reason, health authorities recommend Pfizer/Biontech over Moderna for people under 30. And it is probably what encouraged the use of half doses of the Moderna vaccine for booster shots.

> A handful

The reality is the statistics are always being revised and they are being revised in the direction that heart inflammation is more prevalent than initially thought.

According to the Australian TGA, this rate has been revised to 1/10000 for adolescent boys [1][2]. That is a pretty high value.

This continual rise in myocarditis incidence rates indicates to me that nobody really knows how prevalent these side-effects actually are.

I stand by my statement. People that did experience heart inflammation should not have to choose between participating in society and being boosted with vaccines that have previously injured them.

[1] - https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/vaccine-myocarditi...

[2] - https://www.tga.gov.au/periodic/covid-19-vaccine-weekly-safe...

> There have only been a handful of cases of myocarditis or pericarditis in mRNA vaccine recipients, generally young males. A handful. And none of them have died from it.

Didn't you see the wave of cardiac problems in sports? It's much more than a handful, I here about it almost daily.

The difference here is no one is forcing you NOT to take the vaccine.

You can't attack another user like that, regardless of how wrong they are or you feel they are. We ban accounts that do this, so please don't do it again.

More generally: would you please stop posting flamewar and/or unsubstantive comments? You've been doing it repeatedly and we've had to ask you about this more than once before. It's not what this site is for, and it destroys what it is for.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html