Covid-19 Gambles

Sure of how what works? I'm sure that if X% of tests are positive, then a small proportion of that X% will be false positives
No, the number of false positives is X% of the total number of tests.

(partially cancelled by the fact that should have been positives were 'false negatives').
But that would mean no one knows who is positive and who is negative; just that the actual number is correct.

I'm also sure that, if (as I think we can assume) the proportion of false positives and negatives remains roughly remains fairly constant from day to day, then inaccuracies in the data for those reasons will not seriously affect the pattern of changes over time.
Not sure how that helps.



Bayes's theorem.


.
 
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Sure of how what works? I'm sure that if X% of tests are positive, then a small proportion of that X% will be false positives (partially cancelled by the fact that should have been positives were 'false negatives').

You know that's simply not true when prevalence is low, and of the same order of magnitude as the actual FPR.
E.g. Prevalence of 1%, FPR 0.5%, would mean that 33% of the positive results are false.
False negatives dominate at high prevalence.
 
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/det...n_uptake_by_vaccination_date_age_demographics

There is not yet solid indication of vaccine hesitancy in younger groups, especially since many will have to rearrange due to 28 day limits. What you may be feeling is the effect of a comparatively slower rate of vaccination.

The data is also not simple to interpret, because of the AZ vaccine split at 40 years also.

I did see a chart of uptake over time split by age group. I can't find out now, but it did show a clear reduction in uptake rate. Getting pretty flat now in all age groups.
 
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The UK (and everywhere else) will achieve herd immunity one way or another. Whether vaccination plays a significant part of this outcome is unknown, but with significant numbers of cases and hospitalizations among the vaccinated, it's looking like immunity via exposure is more reliable.
Does this make you a 'vaccine sceptic', as well as a 'NPI sceptic'?
Perhaps this shouldn't be surprising, since the 'vaccines' were only evaluated against their ability to reduce symptoms. They were not shown to reduce infections or transmission ...
In terms of infections, that is nonsense. As for 'transmission', just as with the discussion about masks, to conduct an RCT to determine whether vaccine reduced transmission (by those became infected despite vaccination) would be essentially impossible - and, even if it weren't, such a trial would be seriously frustrated by the fact that only small numbers of vaccinated people get infected.
On light of this, I can well understand why the young would eschew vaccination for this disease. It is of marginal (if any) benefit to them and comes with its own, as yet unquantified risks.
As I said, if they view it on a personal risk/benefit basis (rather than in relation to 'public health'), then one can understand that as one of the reasons why the may decline Covid vaccination.

Although they would have been far too young to have a say in the matter, I wonder how they (particularly the males) feel about having been given rubella vaccine?

Kind Regards, John
 
I'm also sure that, if (as I think we can assume) the proportion of false positives and negatives remains roughly remains fairly constant from day to day,

We cannot assume that. The proportions of both those false results is heavily dependent on prevalence. (Bayes)

Do you mean the proportion of positives which are false, or the operational false positive rate?
 
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Although they would have been far too young to have a say in the matter, I wonder how they (particularly the males) feel about having been given rubella vaccine?
Ditto with girls and mumps (though mumps nastier than rubella).
Difference is that these vaccinations prevent the disease extremely reliably, and have an established safety record.
 
In terms of infections, that is nonsense. As for 'transmission', just as with the discussion about masks, to conduct an RCT to determine whether vaccine reduced transmission (by those became infected despite vaccination) would be essentially impossible - and, even if it weren't, such a trial would be seriously frustrated by the fact that only small numbers of vaccinated people get infected.

Please explain why it's nonsense.
What were the results of the trials in terms of efficacy?
 
Does this make you a 'vaccine sceptic', as well as a 'NPI sceptic'?

As a well vaccinated person, I shouldn't think so.
Some work better than others. Some are very safe and effective. Some have been withdrawn. Some use novel technology. Some have only emergency use authorization.
 
There is not yet solid indication of vaccine hesitancy in younger groups, especially since many will have to rearrange due to 28 day limits. What you may be feeling is the effect of a comparatively slower rate of vaccination.
Thanks.

I'm familiar with that data, but don't quite see how one can ascertain from it what proportion of under-30s are accepting/declining 'invitations'.

In any event, I was going by what the media have been reporting. There was actually someone interviewed on TV a couple of days ago (unfortunately I forget who) who said that, for the first time in the UK, vaccine supply was exceeding demand, and said that was mainly due to "poor take-up by the 18-29 year-olds" (who are the main group recently being offered/given first doses).

Kind Regards, John
 
Please explain why it's nonsense.
Taking the initial AZ trial as an example ... at all sites, subjects reporting symptoms were tested, and only 'counted' if the tests were positive - so "only evaluated against their ability to reduce symptoms. They were not shown to reduce infections ..." is simply not true - what that aspect of the study evaluated was symptomatic infections, not just the appearance of symptoms.

As for asymptomatic infections, the UK arm of the study undertook weekly tests on all participants throughout the study - so will presumably have picked up most asymptomatic infections. The Brazilian arm did no such routine testing and, although the South African did, they only did so at study visits, so will probably have missed a good few asymptomatic infections.

However, all of the results relate to PCR-positive cases (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic) - so essentially 'infections' (give or take testing errors), not 'just symptoms'.

Kind Regards, John
 
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Ditto with girls and mumps (though mumps nastier than rubella). Difference is that these vaccinations prevent the disease extremely reliably, and have an established safety record.
Yes, but my point was that (in relation to rubella, not mumps, which is different), there is minimal risk to an individual if they contract the disease (yet NO vaccine comes with zero risk), and the only real reason for giving the vaccine is to protect as-yet-not-conceived foetuses - so definitely a 'public health', rather than anything to do with individual benefit, particularly for males, because it's not even they who get pregnant - so they are two steps away from the (not yet conceived) people they are protecting by accepting vaccination.

I have no problem with that (provided people realise that's what's happening) and it seems similar in concept to accepting Covid vaccination 'to protect others', even if can't be justified on a risk/benefit basis for protection of the vaccinated individual themselves. However, I could understand some people 'not accepting' (either rubella or Covid) vaccine (if they were given a choice!) because the risk/benefit was not in their personal interest.

Kind Regards, John
 
Yes, but my point was that (in relation to rubella, not mumps, which is different), there is minimal risk to an individual if they contract the disease (yet NO vaccine comes with zero risk), and the only real reason for giving the vaccine is to protect as-yet-not-conceived foetuses - so definitely a 'public health', rather than anything to do with individual benefit, particularly for males, because it's not even they who get pregnant - so they are two steps away from the (not yet conceived) people they are protecting by accepting vaccination.

I have no problem with that (provided people realise that's what's happening) and it seems similar in concept to accepting Covid vaccination 'to protect others', even if can't be justified on a risk/benefit basis for protection of the vaccinated individual themselves. However, I could understand some people 'not accepting' (either rubella or Covid) vaccine (if they were given a choice!) because the risk/benefit was not in their personal interest.

Kind Regards, John
Yes, I think we agree on this. (!)

My point about mumps was that can affect male fertility, so that is clearly not a reason per se for females to take it, but mumps is a horrid experience whoever you are, as I can attest.
 
"only evaluated against their ability to reduce symptoms. They were not shown to reduce infections ..." is simply not true - what that aspect of the study evaluated was symptomatic infections, not just the appearance of symptoms

Yes, my mistake. You are correct.

In light of this high efficacy, I'm finding it hard to reconcile the current seemingly 50/50 or so split in hospitalizations. Is this to be expected or not?
Anecdotally, I do know a few people who have Covid at the moment, and they've all been vaccinated. And Sajid Javid, of course (but we're not acquainted!).
 
On light of this, I can well understand why the young would eschew vaccination for this disease. It is of marginal (if any) benefit to them and comes with its own, as yet unquantified risks.
I suspect there's a correlation with age (younger) ans a) a lesser experience in critical thinking and b) more exposure to things like Facebook and all the conspiracy theories (covid doesn't exist and it's all a con; vaccination will change your DNA; it's actually being done to implant a chip; ...)
And as previously mentioned, a false belief that younger people can't catch it or can't get seriously ill if they do.
 

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