As I have posted, I am not antivax but will not be getting vaccinated. Why because of previous issues with a shot several years ago that still is causing health issues. Due to a very bad outcome from it, the chances are not good for me on this. Its like a person who is allergic to chocolate cannot have it but is not against others eating it. I will just continue to social distance and wear a mask for the near future. I do want us to get to herd immunity but I will have to pass on it. There are other people for various health reasons have to pass. Hopefully we are the rare ones.

Non hepa filters rated MERV-13 can catch most viruses, but are more expensive.


Good to see that every single day has been under the same 5 days last week when it comes to new case counts. I would say based on this which is official numbers from our state health dept that Oklahoma numbers are not yet rising or spiking. I don’t see any indication of the “poop” spike that was claimed. Our numbers have fluctuated daily from 100-400 but the average has stayed close to 300 Over the last few weeks.

Thank God responsible people with a conscience are actually getting vaccinated and bringing down the transmission. This is proof the vaccines work as expected. It is a race to get enough vaccinated so the irresponsible ones who refuse to are at lower risk. There will always be those that piggy back off people who will do the right thing to experience the rewards they refuse to help create.

Not a thing on the local news that I heard of about breakthrough cases. We should be screaming the numbers from the roof tops. Get vaccinated only 4 people hospitalized and 1 death since being fully vaccinated. Scroll it on the bottom of the screen if you have too. Try to get people that at on the fence about getting the vaccine to get it . I know there are some that will never get it and some for medical reason but we still I would image still have many that are on the fence about it. https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2021/04/16/oklahoma-sees-some-5800-cdc-breakthrough-covid-vaccine-cases/7238232002/

Not a thing on the local news that I heard of about breakthrough cases. We should be screaming the numbers from the roof tops. Get vaccinated only 4 people hospitalized and 1 death since being fully vaccinated. Scroll it on the bottom of the screen if you have too. Try to get people that at on the fence about getting the vaccine to get it . I know there are some that will never get it and some for medical reason but we still I would image still have many that are on the fence about it.

Do you have a link to the death that you are talking about? I've not heard anything from a reputable source.

We are all ready doing a poor job with the narrative. I'm starting to see why people don't want to get the shot. When you see the President outside wearing a mask it doesn't help. When news 9 runs a story on how variants are dangerous it doesn't help. When National media keeps saying cases in 20 states are rising after we gave a record number of shots it doesn't help. Dr Fauci says it's not ok to go out to eat https://www.eatthis.com/news-fauci-covid-risk-places-vaccine/ I think the narrative of 200 breakthrough cases, or whatever the number might be, out of 1 million with no hospitalizations would be a much better narrative that what is happening now.

So, are you saying that people won't get a free vaccine if you inform them that they're 90%+ effective against a deadly contagious disease that has killed over half a million people in the US, produces variants as it spreads, and is increasing in the United States. But they will get it if they're told the vaccine will allow them to not wear a mask at wal-mart for 20 min or in line at the buffet, and, as a bonus, the President won't wear a mask in public either??

Maybe while we're at it we should tell them there's electrolytes in the vaccines, too.

With the ups and downs of the hospital numbers (while really low) it’s hard to see the good news sometimes but here is something that shows the good in the numbers
Mayor hold just posted this

“ For the first time since June, 2020, hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the Oklahoma City metro have dipped below 110”

So, are you saying that people won't get a free vaccine if you inform them that they're 90%+ effective against a deadly contagious disease that has killed over half a million people in the US, produces variants as it spreads, and is increasing in the United States. But they will get it if they're told the vaccine will allow them to not wear a mask at wal-mart for 20 min or in line at the buffet, and, as a bonus, the President won't wear a mask in public either??

Maybe while we're at it we should tell them there's electrolytes in the vaccines, too.

Anything to get people vaccinated I don't care. If 20 minutes at walmart works so be it. There are people out there that say why get the vaccine for a virus that only has a 99% change of killing me. And yes if your under 40 might even be 45 you have a 99% chance of not dying. Those are the people you have to approach with a different method and if it's no mask it a buffet line so be it. I don't know what the answer is but try everything you got to get people the shot.

Do you have a link to the death that you are talking about? I've not heard anything from a reputable source. Yes I edited my post. Just goes to confirm people are not hearing about it. https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2021/04/16/oklahoma-sees-some-5800-cdc-breakthrough-covid-vaccine-cases/7238232002/ If it don't work just google Oklahoma Breakthrough cases.

Anything to get people vaccinated I don't care. If 20 minutes at walmart works so be it. There are people out there that say why get the vaccine for a virus that only has a 99% change of killing me. And yes if your under 40 might even be 45 you have a 99% chance of not dying. Those are the people you have to approach with a different method and if it's no mask it a buffet line so be it. I don't know what the answer is but try everything you got to get people the shot.

You're probably, so sadly, correct. Misinformation got them to illogically ignore the pandemic and its devastation on people's lives, I guess maybe misinformation is the way to trick them into doing the logical thing to get out of it?

Maybe we should tell them that COVID-19 turns them into MSM loving satanists and the vaccine is 90% effective at preventing that. That is, the best thing for us right now is for journalists to not report on the facts of what's happening and just bull**** people into getting the vaccine... for the good of the people, of course!

Kidding aside, I do get it. And it's really discouraging. The first ME generation is in charge and the (possibly) second ME generation (Gen Z) are both mostly asking "what's in it for ME" to get the vaccine. But I'm just uncomfortable with the idea that we need to dumb down the reporting to convince them that it's just the right thing to do for the community. If they don't get that now, they never will. So, let's not start asking the "MSM" or whatever to become a state propaganda machine to put forth untruths for an end. The thing is, and this has been the thing all along, the truth should be enough for people to get motivated to do what is best for their fellow countrymen, their neighbors, not to mention their vulnerable loved ones.

I mean, it'd be easy for us to come up with some catchy hashtag or bull**** meme to get people to get the vaccine, wear a mask, and continue to social distance until we reach a point where a pandemic that has effected he entire world for over a year can be contained and declared under control by people who know what they're talking about. And that'd be great, but if that's what it takes, then we're screwed beyond what covid has done and can do.

Make some grants for pharmacies to have them give a $20 gift card with every vaccine. People do anything for a gift card.

Make some grants for pharmacies to have them give a $20 gift card with every vaccine. People do anything for a gift card.

Daily drawings at the sites to win a big screen tv. That would get this crowd for sure. People will do anything for that free 70 inch tv.

Daily drawings at the sites to win a big screen tv. That would get this crowd for sure. People will do anything for that free 70 inch tv.

Casinos can do win a trip to Vegas. I'll even get a third shot :). Really anything it takes. I'm even a little torn on the vaccine passports. I say no but I think for the summer if you want to go to an event you need to prove a covid test or the vaccine. I'm sure that is how some of the sports teams are letting in fans in New York. Concerts this summer could be something too for only vaccinated people. I'm not saying a permit solution but just a June, July, Aug thing. I know it would never work just thinking out loud.

I took some time to tabulate the percentage of vaccinated by state (from https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations):

Oklahoma is currently #29:

1 NH 80.8
2 CT 77.7
3 NM 77.6
4 VT 76.0
5 MA 75.0
6 ME 74.9
7 RI 73.2
8 SD 71.8
9 NJ 70.5
10 AK 70.4
11 WI 69.7
12 NY 69.5
13 ND 68.9
14 MD 67.2
15 MN 67.1
16 IA 66.6
17 DE 66.6
18 PA 66.5
19 VA 66.4
20 HI 66.1
21 CA 66.0
22 CO 65.8
23 NE 65.5
24 WA 65.2
25 IL 64.6
26 KY 63.7
27 MT 63.4
28 OH 62.7
29 OK 62.5
30 KS 62.3
31 FL 62.3
32 AZ 61.9
33 MI 61.6
34 OR 61.5
35 WV 60.5
36 NV 59.5
37 NC 59.5
38 UT 58.3
39 MO 57.1
40 TX 57.0
41 SC 56.4
42 WY 55.9
43 IN 54.7
44 ID 54.5
45 LA 53.5
46 AR 53.4
47 TN 52.1
48 GA 51.4
49 MS 49.2
50 AL 46.7

Is that completely vaccinated, or does it count people partially vaccinated?

^

It's total doses.

So, in Oklahoma's case, it doesn't mean that 62.5% of the population has had at least one dose.

^

It's total doses.

So, in Oklahoma's case, it doesn't mean that 62.5% of the population has had at least one dose.

Ahhh for a second there it looked like New Hampshire would have to be just stabbing people as they walked by with the vaccine to get those numbers. Still total doses is pretty amazing.

787 new cases today (3-day total); 7-day rolling average the lowest it's been since 6/20/20 at 268.

21 additional reported deaths (3-day total); 7-day rolling average 11.6 the lowest since 11/14/20.

Hospitalizations (reported Friday) are 197 (-18).

ICU (reported Friday) is 52 (-2).

As a side note, I had to go into Walgreens last night (oh, how I hate their ridiculous checkout; same with CVS) and there were about 8 other customers and none were wearing a mask.

And a few days ago, I noticed a bunch in Sam's not wearing one.

It seems people are generally just stopping now.

I think we can be safe to say Oklahoma isn’t spiking or going up with current data over last two weeks. With masks being less used and restaurants being packed over last months that is good news.

Hope this trend holds true.

I don't agree that "the media" is focusing on negative stories.

a Dartmouth study show the US media is much much more negative about covid then the rest of the world

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/04/05/news-media-negative-coronavirus

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/24/briefing/boulder-shooting-george-segal-astrazeneca.html

a Dartmouth study show the US media is much much more negative about covid then the rest of the world

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/04/05/news-media-negative-coronavirus

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/24/briefing/boulder-shooting-george-segal-astrazeneca.html

Perhaps because we have far more cases and deaths than the rest of the world.

lol.

Here's a study that rejects your worldview.

Study is wrong

Perhaps because we have far more cases and deaths than the rest of the world.

It’s more reflective of American news media than any disparity in health outcomes.

It’s more reflective of American news media than any disparity in health outcomes.

Baloney.

We have more than double the cases than anywhere else and nearly 600,000 people have died.

It's ridiculous to suggest 'the media' in the U.S. should have been more positive about all this.

A quarter or so of the worlds' deaths from the virus but the real problem is that the media. Yeah, okay, sure.

On April 5 Claremore ended its mask ordinance in part because the local hospital had no covid patients.

On April 5 Claremore ended its mask ordinance in part because the local hospital had no covid patients.

Good news. Hearing hospitals are not having any patients is the goal and little to no deaths occurring is the other part of the ultimate goal. Thats the goal we originally were after to not overwhelm medical facilities.
We will probably always have cases going around now just like any other virus.

Outside of okc and Tulsa and central ok area. The rest of Oklahoma only has 26 in the hospitals. That’s great. Understand anything severe is probably moved to okc or Tulsa but that’s great the rural facilities have such low case counts to not burden them when they are limited on resources anyway

Any reason why my post last night was deleted from this thread?

Any reason why my post last night was deleted from this thread?

I delete any posts that are largely political.

If you see something political from the other side of the spectrum, report it.

Baloney.

We have more than double the cases than anywhere else and nearly 600,000 people have died.

It's ridiculous to suggest 'the media' in the U.S. should have been more positive about all this.

Also the fattest country in the world.

And the huge number of cases is because we test more than anyone else. Other countries are healthier overall, it's a mild cold they move on with life.

^

Even if all that is true (which constitutes a couple of big leaps), we've still had well over half a million people die in this country, and hundreds are still dying every day.


This is an absurd conversation.

^

Even if all that is true (which constitutes a couple of big leaps), we've still had well over half a million people die in this country, and hundreds are still dying every day.


This is an absurd conversation.

78% of those who were hospitalized were obese or overweight.

Food is one thing you have complete control over.

If Americans were healthier less would have died.

You can't just make policy and decisions just because something is "sad".

So now this is about fat people and policies and decisions?


This is all political BS, not very thinly veiled.

78% of those who were hospitalized were obese or overweight.

Food is one thing you have complete control over.

...

Not really:

How Big Business Makes Food As Addictive as Cocaine: The Secret Science Behind Food Addiction And How to Beat It (https://modernhealthmonk.com/food-addiction/)

And here's some more:

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=how+corporations+make+food+addictive&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiE45SXk4vwAhWFKs0KHeXdCMwQBSgAegQIChAv&biw=1385&bih=875

Educate yourself.

You can't just make policy and decisions just because something is "sad".

Policy decisions motivated by trying to mitigate covid transmission have been based on public health concerns and our understating of communicable disease. We actually do that ALL THE TIME. Yes, 566k+ dead in the US alone is sad. As is 3MM dead worldwide in about 18 months. It's all definitely very sad. But the sadness millions of people are feeling because they have lost someone to covid does not preclude implementing policy to trying to mitigate the number of deaths by known methods. That really doesn't even make sense in any sentient way. And, I imagine if you're honest with yourself, you know that A LOT of policy is made in attempt to mitigate death in the community and part of that is because everyone, or at least most people, finds death sad, especially widespread death in large numbers.

But, you know, you can just say "I don't care". You don't have to present statistics or demographics to say that you don't care. In a way, it's kind of grosser to qualify your indifference.

And given what the polices have been, especially in the US, and especially in Oklahoma, it's kind of amazing it's an issue with anyone. I mean, if you were going to be around a family member that has cancer, or is obese, or otherwise compromised and knew that simply wearing a face covering greatly reduced the risk of them catching a potentially deadly disease from you, would you really be like "well, it's just a common cold for me, and it's their fault their in the situation they're in. so I'm not going to follow that policy just because it would be sad if they died from it".

I mean, I don't know you, so maybe I'm making a bad assumption by thinking that you wouldn't do that, but I guess I just haven't reached that level cynicism, yet.

Only 75 new cases today; 7-day rolling average 263.

For some reason they show additional reported deaths going down 1 from yesterday. 7-day rolling average 10.9.

Hospitalizations are 189 (-8).

ICU is 48 (-4).

Only 75 new cases today; 7-day rolling average 263.

For some reason they show new deaths going down 1 from yesterday. 7-day rolling average 10.9.

Hospitalizations are 189 (-8).

ICU is 48 (-4).

When was last time it was this low? April 2020 maybe?

When was last time it was this low? April 2020 maybe?

I only go by 7-day averages because the daily numbers fluctuate -- especially lately -- due to catch-ups and adjustments.

This the lowest the 7-day average has been since 6/18/20.

Are our testing numbers still keeping up?

Are our testing numbers still keeping up?

The negative count total is still increasing greatly daily from my quick glance at the last week. So I’d say testing is still heavily occurring. Not probably to levels it was but our percent positive is much lower

Thanks, I haven’t been able to take a good look at raw data. I was thinking that test positivity was still going down, but I wasn’t sure.

We are now 47th in new cases per 100k. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html?referringSource=articleShare

Good news all around.

238 new cases today; 7-day rolling average 239.

45 additional reported deaths; 7-day rolling average 13.7.

Hospitalizations are 185 (-4).

ICU is 44 (-4).

283 new cases today; 7-day rolling average 237.

8 additional reported deaths; 7-day rolling average 11.9.

Hospitalizations are 203 (+18).

ICU is 50 (+6).

I think Oklahoma did a good job with the vaccine rollout. I was vaccinated before many friends and family in other states.

I think Oklahoma did a good job with the vaccine rollout. I was vaccinated before many friends and family in other states.

Rather than availability, the issue now becomes the large percentage of people who refuse to get it.

We need to reach at least 70% and we are still a long way from achieving that; I'm worried we may never get there.

Rather than availability, the issue now becomes the large percentage of people who refuse to get it.

We need to reach at least 70% and we are still a long way from achieving that; I'm worried we may never get there.

If we get 60 I'll be surprised. The pace is slowing wayyyy down.

If we get 60 I'll be surprised. The pace is slowing wayyyy down.

Yes, this is a big worry and was predictable due to the state's strong political leanings and how that is directly tied to people who are most likely to just refuse the vaccine.

I'd sure like to see our governor and other state leaders of the same party make a strong appeal to these people.

I just did some research and here are some numbers on Oklahoma's vax rate:

Population over 18: 3,003,341
Fully vaccinated population: 914,183

Percentage of Oklahoma adults that is fully vaccinated: 30.4%.



We've still got a very long way to go to reach that 70% threshold which is generally acknowledged as the required level for herd immunity.

Yes, this is a big worry and was predictable due to the state's strong political leanings and how that is directly tied to people who are most likely to just refuse the vaccine.

I'd sure like to see our governor and other state leaders of the same party make a strong appeal to these people.

Would that actually work, do you think?

Would that actually work, do you think?

It would certainly help, but we have a very big hill to climb in this state.

I think with vaccines and getting hold outs to take it needs to be less talk of what party they are in or name calling or anti-vax or words I’ve seen on here calling them irresponsible. That just creates more divide and will drive them to not take it. The message just needs to be clear on communication and help educate them of the benefits are greater than risks of not taking it. Calling people irresponsible for not getting it when you don’t know their reasons or not helping them understand the benefits isn’t going to drive them to sign up to get it. No one likes being called names and that won’t drive them to take it. Just my thoughts so try to be educational not confrontational to your community you know who haven’t had vaccine yet.

^

The fact remains that the main reason most won't get the shot is due to political rhetoric and their party affiliation. This has been demonstrated through countless scientific polls.

Therefore, those in that very large group are not going to listen to Fauci or anyone else they have decided not to trust, no matter the approach.

That means the party leaders have an opportunity and responsibility to reach out and send reinforcing messages. That is still not happening to any great extent while there is still tons of ridiculous disinformation and repeated falsehoods from sources a lot of these people follow. We see it on this site and thread almost every day. That has to be counteracted and it has to be done by people this group will listen to. There is no other way to persuade them.


In other words, this has much more to do with the messengers than the message.

^

The fact remains that the main reason most won't get the shot is due to political rhetoric and their party affiliation. This has been demonstrated through countless scientific polls.

Therefore, those in that very large group are not going to listen to Fauci or anyone else they have decided not to trust, no matter the approach.

That means the party leaders have an opportunity and responsibility to reach out and send reinforcing messages. That is still not happening to any great extent while there is still tons of ridiculous disinformation and repeated falsehoods from sources a lot of these people follow. We see it on this site and thread almost every day. That has to be counteracted and it has to be done by people this group will listen to. There is no other way to persuade them.


In other words, this has much more to do with the messengers than the message.

Not disagreeing but it needs someone they trust to educate them and persuade like you say. But the others calling them irresponsible and other names will counteract the positive messaging towards these people. I just am saying that people don’t need to call them names but help educate them and persuade them in positive ways.

Not disagreeing but it needs someone they trust to educate them and persuade like you say. But the others calling them irresponsible and other names will counteract the positive messaging towards these people. I just am saying that people donÂ’t need to call them names but help educate them and persuade them in positive ways.

I agree with your characterization of the psychology of confirmation bias, but what do you educate them with?

They've clearly already rejected the science and any reputable source that studies vaccines and epidemiology. What is more positive than a safe and effective vaccine that, when taken en masse, will significantly control the spread of a highly infectious disease that has killed 3 million people worldwide? If an appeal to their OWN self interest, that of their loved ones, and their community as whole doesn't motivate them to participate in the efforts to control the disease and save lives, what would?

Is this another call to lie to them? Do we tell them there are electrolytes in the vaccines or free Viagra comes with your second does? (I believe free beer is actually already an option.) But that seems more irresponsible to me.

Of course, there is always going to be some hold outs or people that believe there's a Bill Gates tracking device in the vaccine, but having the people and leaders that have played politics with all of this from the start publicly encourage the vaccine, it could significantly undue the damage they did by downplaying other preventative measures and mocking the science for a year and a half. If they just spent as much energy "educating" people about the vaccine as they did misinforming people about the virus, we'd be able to hit the 70% target fairly quickly.

I think Pete's point that the messenger matters as much or more than the message is extremely valid, especially at this point in time, simply because that's more or less how this whole thing has played out.

Not disagreeing but it needs someone they trust to educate them and persuade like you say. But the others calling them irresponsible and other names will counteract the positive messaging towards these people. I just am saying that people don’t need to call them names but help educate them and persuade them in positive ways.

I don't see any name calling; just facts. That is, they are being irresponsible and they have intentionally chosen to be immune to education on the topic. When someone drives 90 mph down a residential street with a toddler in the back seat without a car seat, they are being irresponsible. If I try to tell them why they're being irresponsible (i.e., they are endangering themselves and others by the actions they take or fail to take) and their defense of their behavior is an absurdity about Bill Gates microchips being implanted in people who drive slowly and safely, they will not be open to accepting fact-based arguments. It's a political disease that has overtaken their minds and, as of now, we know of no cure for intransigent ignorance and self-imposed victimhood.

It doesn't help when one of the vaccines is at temporally placed on hold. That hurts with public trust.

It doesn't help when one of the vaccines is at temporally placed on hold. That hurts with public trust.

Which doesn't make a lot of sense.

This action only reinforces that they actually have scrutinized and are continuing to scrutinize the safety and efficacy of these vaccines.

It doesn't help when one of the vaccines is at temporally placed on hold. That hurts with public trust.

It shouldn't make any difference other than providing yet another excuse for those who had already decided not to take any vaccine for any reason.

That percentage was very high long before the potential issues with J&J.

True.

And you could try and educate them about what is actually happening with the J&J vaccine pause and the relative risk markers to date with something like this:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/04/13/johnson-and-johnson-vaccine-blood-clots/

But, it's mainly info supplied by physicians, the FDA, and the CDC in an article from the Washington Post.

That amounts to 4 strikes to an anti-vaxxer.