Thread by @CPita3

Thread for PH/ID communicators, who have taken a centrist position between anti-vaxxer/COVID-deniers and "Zero-COVID Zealots":

What should young, triple-vaxxed people be doing during this BA.5 wave?

Should they be avoiding infection via respirators, ventilation/filtration?
/1

The vast majority of previously cautious people, now believe the Pandemic is over. They aren't masking, they go to crowded/indoor events.

Those of us still taking precautions are made to feel like extremists.

Do you think we're zealots for continuing to avoid infection?

/2

Many of the centrist communicators advocate for continued mask use.

Some will even nod towards improving ventilation/filtration.

(Although many are casting doubt on the effectivity/feasibility of these engineering interventions - despite this being outside their expertise).

/3

That doubt aside, I think many of the centrist communicators actually agree with those of us that are continuing to avoid infection.

If so, what is their plan/solution for convincing the 95% of society that has given in to the virus?

/4

Why has society given in?

There is a pervasive minimizing narrative re "mild" Omicron. The PH and media messaging is triple-vax-and-relax.

We've taken a PV-GBD (Post-Vax GBD) approach, which suggests there is no longer a need to take precaution.

/5

If the centrist communicators do not agree with PV-GBD, and they believe we should continue to avoid infection, they need to help communicate WHY.

The message isn't getting through.

WHY should people avoid infection if COVID is mild now for triple vaxxed people?

/6

I think the WHY is often avoided, because it's scary and can be seen as fearmongering.

Long COVID, continued severity with repeat infections, continued mutation of new variants, extraordinary uncertainty re long term effects of this virus, pediatric hepatitis, etc.

/7

But without addressing the WHY head-on, and raising the spectre of some of these possible long-term consequences, we will never sway the population to take this seriously again.

We have lost the battle to PV-GBD and repeat infections for all, even the immunocompromised.

/8

And what's worse.. the population that has given in to PV-GBD and the #InfectionMandate, has not been informed re. the downside risk of this approach.

There is no informed consent, because they have been deluded by this mild narrative.

/9

So.. instead of the hand-wringing over "Zero-COVID extremists" and "Fearmongering articles", perhaps you could use your enormous platform to help educate the masses that COVID is NOT over, that it still poses a significant risk, and that society needs to keep up the fight.

/10

Look outside your field to experts from other disciplines that are offering solutions, like @joeyfox85.

Do not pre-emptively discount and undermine these solutions, by casting doubt on their efficacy and feasibility.

Let's give it a God Damn try.

/end

https://twitter.com/joeyfox85/status/1546155191048757252?t=6qp_4YydRd3jhENjEqGZbg&s=19