I keep seeing statements like this one I just got on NextDoor: “My fiancé and I have considered the vaccine but we know someone whose dad passed of a heart attack within a few days of the vaccine and he was very fit, at 48 years of age. A close family friend of mine (female) at 47 years old and healthy, had a confirmed mini stroke within days of the vaccine.” Please allow me to share my response to her, in case you’re on the fence regarding vaccinations because of such experiences.
Georgia — (Note that I’m not disagreeing with you or debating you.) You’re mixing up proximity of two events and cause/effect. The cases you cite are valid only if it’s medically clear that the vaccine actually caused the stroke or whatever. For example, a person ate German food and soon thereafter had a terrible headache. Was there something in the food, or was his body ready for a headache because of stress (or the wine that went with the food)? He’d definitely want to know what the specific cause was before he gave up his beloved German food. We draw these causal conclusions all the time–if I hadn’t left five minutes late I wouldn’t have been in that accident or I should have (fill in the blank) so then (fill in the blank) wouldn’t have happened. My response here isn’t intended to debate you, just to reassure you that not everything that seems like a cause should be accepted as a cause until it’s checked out. For you and you’re family’s sake, and those you come in contact with, especially during the holidays, please put that in the mix as you decide whether vaccinations are what you want to do or not to do.