Covid-19 Vaccine Information

[BDP]

I haven't seen anyone argue against that though. But there are folks arguing that any vaccine resistance is 100% political, which makes no sense based on the polling, and it does ignore other factors. Obviously, it certainly is a major factor, but there are other reasons for resistance and sometimes we confuse correlation and causation. A lot of the groups that would be resistant to any vaccine, such as certain religious groups, those who don't trust the government, rural voters, also tend to lean conservative. You combine that with the terrible messaging from right wing sources, and it certainly makes a perfect storm. But there's a reason that resistance isn't at 0% among democrats or independents.

I imagine there are next to zero that would say they won't get the vaccine because they are Republican. I think it's more of a result of Republicans using covid to court the anti-science crowd. It is a strategy. It became a Republican thing because Republican leadership chose for it to be.

As far as I can tell, the 8% of Democratic voters who won't get the vaccine, are doing so despite that party's efforts and messaging. And, of course, there are impressionable Democrats and Independents that have the internet and facebook, too.

[jerrywall]

A lot of what you see in your Facebook feed is based on what you click on, what groups you follow, the stuff you share, etc.

As a consequence, I don't see much of that crap.

Again, personal behavior has a lot to do with this.

Or who you have in your friends list. Folks can't always choose their family though.

[FighttheGoodFight]

That's true Pete, but I'll tell you, I fight constantly trying to counter what my Grandmother sees (as an example). She doesn't seek out the bad information, but Facebook is her primary interaction with much of the world and her family (especially over the past year). And sure enough, she buys into every third conspiracy or crappy post she sees. A LOT of bad information gets pushed right to the very front of the feeds daily. I know I see it and I have to report it as misinformation, and when I see her sharing some bad information, I'll call her to try to correct her, so I try to do my part there. But I can certainly see how someone who uses social media as their primary source of information can end up believing a lot of false stuff. It's not like this is the first time we've seen that effect.

I get a lot of the "Wow look at this article can you believe this?!" No I can't. The headline and picture are made to make you click on it, comment and share it. People lack the ability to read things and fall for this far to often, usually the older generation but that could also be because they use FB more than the younger people now.

Then they get sucked into Youtube videos and start watching those loonies everyday as if it is Walter Cronkite reporting the news. People just keep following what they want to believe and seek those who confirm it. If you have parents I recommend them just not getting facebook. Both my parents are not on social media and at all and compared to my in laws it definitely makes a big difference in the topics they tend to bring up.

For that matter, I have taken a step back from FB. It has just gotten too bad.

[jerrywall]

I get a lot of the "Wow look at this article can you believe this?!" No I can't. The headline and picture are made to make you click on it, comment and share it. People lack the ability to read things and fall for this far to often, usually the older generation but that could also be because they use FB more than the younger people now.

Then they get sucked into Youtube videos and start watching those loonies everyday as if it is Walter Cronkite reporting the news. People just keep following what they want to believe and seek those who confirm it. If you have parents I recommend them just not getting facebook. Both my parents are not on social media and at all and compared to my in laws it definitely makes a big difference in the topics they tend to bring up.

For that matter, I have taken a step back from FB. It has just gotten too bad.

That's true, although this problem predates FB and social media. I've been the "tech guy" in my family for a while and even back in the 90's I was having to respond to crazy emails from my aunts or grandparents or even my father. Whether it was Y2k, or a panic that hotel key cards have all your personal information, or pink slime, false information going around is nothing new. And people, especially older folks, tend to fall for this stuff at a much higher rate. That's why there are so many scammers making money off of ripping those folks off. If someone is willing to believe some Nigerian Prince is trying to send them money, then they certainly will believe some crazy demon blood youtube video. The technical literacy is so low for some people, they aren't even aware of the tools or techniques to validate information. It's real easy to act like it's so simple to do, but I deal with people all the time who get confused if I use a term like "right-click".

[Pete]

^

Fear is a great marketing tool and it plays well with older people.

They love that "world is going to hell" narrative and look for things that confirm their bias.

Every aging generation has been sure the country/world is going straight to ruin for at least 100 years.

[Bill Robertson]

I get a lot of the "Wow look at this article can you believe this?!" No I can't. The headline and picture are made to make you click on it, comment and share it. People lack the ability to read things and fall for this far to often, usually the older generation but that could also be because they use FB more than the younger people now.

Then they get sucked into Youtube videos and start watching those loonies everyday as if it is Walter Cronkite reporting the news. People just keep following what they want to believe and seek those who confirm it. If you have parents I recommend them just not getting facebook. Both my parents are not on social media and at all and compared to my in laws it definitely makes a big difference in the topics they tend to bring up.

For that matter, I have taken a step back from FB. It has just gotten too bad.

I have a friend in our grade school FB group that almost daily posts some absolutely asinine BS that she saw and believes completely when 30 seconds of fact checking proves it's BS. It's hard to believe the gullibility!

[BDP]

That's true, although this problem predates FB and social media. I've been the "tech guy" in my family for a while and even back in the 90's I was having to respond to crazy emails from my aunts or grandparents or even my father. Whether it was Y2k, or a panic that hotel key cards have all your personal information, or pink slime, false information going around is nothing new. And people, especially older folks, tend to fall for this stuff at a much higher rate. That's why there are so many scammers making money off of ripping those folks off. If someone is willing to believe some Nigerian Prince is trying to send them money, then they certainly will believe some crazy demon blood youtube video. The technical literacy is so low for some people, they aren't even aware of the tools or techniques to validate information. It's real easy to act like it's so simple to do, but I deal with people all the time who get confused if I use a term like "right-click".

And, in the same way, a lot of these people are actually victims of intended manipulation by way of misinformation. This time it was amplified because we have all been damaged and put at risk by the con job, even if we aren't the ones actually falling for it.

[jerrywall]

Has anyone seen if CVS is offering walk-in covid vaccinations in Oklahoma? I saw a news article today that they were doing it in a large number of locations, but every article I find is talking about other states. And if not CVS, are there any places offering walk-in vaccinations in Oklahoma, or is it still by appointment (ignoring the just show up without an appointment option that some have done)?

[Pete]

I have a friend in our grade school FB group that almost daily posts some absolutely asinine BS that she saw and believes completely when 30 seconds of fact checking proves it's BS. It's hard to believe the gullibility!

Willful ignorance is the main force at work here.

[BDP]

Has anyone seen if CVS is offering walk-in covid vaccinations in Oklahoma? I saw a news article today that they were doing it in a large number of locations, but every article I find is talking about other states. And if not CVS, are there any places offering walk-in vaccinations in Oklahoma, or is it still by appointment (ignoring the just show up without an appointment option that some have done)?

All I know is that the CVS I go to always has a lot of empty chairs designated for Covid Vaccinations. If they have supply and aren't offering walk-ins, they really should be.

[FighttheGoodFight]

Has anyone seen if CVS is offering walk-in covid vaccinations in Oklahoma? I saw a news article today that they were doing it in a large number of locations, but every article I find is talking about other states. And if not CVS, are there any places offering walk-in vaccinations in Oklahoma, or is it still by appointment (ignoring the just show up without an appointment option that some have done)?

Doesn't look like CVS says they do it yet. However Walmart and Sam's Club nationwide are all accepting walkins as supply is available. They started that yesterday.

[Bill Robertson]

Twice I've seen signs in the Walgreens drive-thru at Rockwell & Hefner saying they had excess vaccine that day and "Come On In".

[BDP]

Pfizer is probably going to be approved for 12-15 year olds in the next couple of weeks, so that may tick up demand, at least for a few weeks. Sounds like there is enough on hand for tor it, though.

[oilmud]

I imagine there are next to zero that would say they won't get the vaccine because they are Republican. I think it's more of a result of Republicans using covid to court the anti-science crowd. It is a strategy. It became a Republican thing because Republican leadership chose for it to be.

As far as I can tell, the 8% of Democratic voters who won't get the vaccine, are doing so despite that party's efforts and messaging. And, of course, there are impressionable Democrats and Independents that have the internet and facebook, too.

You cite republicans, but you will not address why Hispanics and Blacks while largely Democrats refuse to take the vaccine.
T

[Pete]

Weekly statewide fully immunized number increased by 51,149 week-over-week.

The 2 weeks before were 71,181 and 93,699; progress is slowing way, way down.


Statewide total immunization rate for those over 18: 34.5%

[BDP]

You cite republicans, but you will not address why Hispanics and Blacks while largely Democrats refuse to take the vaccine.
T

I was just discussing the numbers provided here of vaccine resistance by party as a reflection of the difference in messaging between the two parties. Of course, vaccine resistance data can be grouped in a different way to examine other motivators for resistance, but that wasn't the discussion.

[PoliSciGuy]

You cite republicans, but you will not address why Hispanics and Blacks while largely Democrats refuse to take the vaccine.
T

There it's because blacks and Hispanics have less, unequal access to healthcare, including vaccines. It has little to do with hesitancy. Though given the horrible history of blacks being abused by the medical profession (see: the Tuskegee Study), some reticence would be expected and understandable.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features...not-hesitancy/

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-...-how-to-fix-it

[Pete]

Yes, it's all those blacks and Latinos in the rural Oklahoma counties that are the issue.

[ditm4567]

I'll go ahead and say it. For about a week after I got my second vaccine, I immensely regretted it. I am 25, great health *knocks on wood*, and never contracted COVID (as far as I'm aware) without changing my day-to-day life. Those 5 days after my second shot were some of the worst days I have ever felt, illness wise. The two main reasons I even got the vaccine to begin with were travel purposes (incase places require proof, b/c I love to travel), and to hush the comments from those pushing the vaccine. NEWSFLASH: those that push the vaccine comments on others are almost as insufferable as those that are anti-vax. But the purpose of this post is I have talked to many, many people around my age that have either had COVID, or haven't, and see no reason in getting the shot. Especially those that were barely sick when they had COVID, or those that haven't gotten it but have still been just as social as pre-COVID.

FWIW, I got my first vaccine prior to the CDC saying those vaccinated might not carry and transmit COVID, so save me those comments.

[David]

Better to be insufferable in the cause of ending the global pandemic we're all laboring under than insufferable in trying to prolong it.

[dankrutka]

A lot of what you see in your Facebook feed is based on what you click on, what groups you follow, the stuff you share, etc.

You’re doing a bit of blaming the victim here. Facebook and YouTube algorithms do not simply respond to people’s behavior, they actively nudge them in directions all the time. If you search “vaccine” in either of those platforms, they will begin repeatedly encouraging you to join anti-vaxxer groups and conspiracy theory videos. Fear inducing, hateful content generates more engagement and the business model of social media companies are built to encourage more engagement. Many elderly people grew up in an era where they were generally presented news from *more* trustworthy sources. It would be great if there were more media literacy efforts, but the far bigger issue is demanding social media companies quit actively spreading hate and conspiracies.

It’s great that you and many others have great media literacy skills and find active information, but our society has to do more to combat how these huge social media companies constantly push people into bad places. It’s not just about individual choice.

[oklip955]

Its not all Republicans are antivacs. I am a conservative Republican and do believe we need this. In the past I was always one of the first to get and make sure I was vacinated and up to date on them. Its just that I do have a medical condition that my doctor (specialist) said for me to wait. Also from what I have read that that advice is in line with what I have read. I am among those 0.0001% that do have a legit medical reason to not get it. Its like someone with a peanut allergy, its not like they are against others eating it, its just that they should not.

[Pete]

our society has to do more to combat how these huge social media companies constantly push people into bad places. It’s not just about individual choice.

Never said it was "just about individual choice". I can tell you I never, ever see these crazy stories in my Facebook feed.

And of course, a huge amount of disinformation comes from Russia and other places with a vested interest in causing disruption in our culture/politics.

[dankrutka]

Agreed. I just want to make sure these unethical social media companies get their share of the blame!

[Pete]

The social media companies can't win.

If they take a hands-off approach, they are blamed for providing a platform. If they are more proactive, there are loud cries of censorship.

It's far from a simple problem and I'm sure things will get better; most of this is completely unchartered territory.