I never thought I'd personally live through such an intense period of groupthink + consensus shifts (which are not alien concepts at all for sociology!) but I hadn't realized how they'd be accompanied by this deep and immediate "always been at war with Eastasia" amnesia. Amazing.
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We spent months trying to get masks accepted as a scientifically reasonable precaution! (Now seems we can't get it across that not all masks are equal). A whole year trying to get authorities (mostly in Western nations) to emphasize ventilation and indoors as risks! lol folks.
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To emphasize: I am *completely* on the side of science—the enterprise, the method, the miracle of it all. I am in awe of what scientists have done last year. It was an annus mirabilis for science and annus horribilis for humanity. But "follow the science" has become a talisman.
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Replying to @zeynep
Hope you are maintaining enough skepticism to remember that being right about one thing (masks) provides absolutely no insulation against being wrong about other things (immunology).
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Replying to @Merz
The current immunology debate is way above my pay grade with virologists with impeccable credentials on both sides of the debate! We'll learn soon. My argument was to immediately launch a trial for what happens without an immediate booster, and we absolutely should have.
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Replying to @zeynep
There are no "both sides" on this one. There's only a lack of data, as you indicate. And in the absence of data no scientifically-based policy prescription is possible, yet.
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Meaning that at present we have one set of evidence-based options (prime + boost for multiple vaccines, not mixed).
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Replying to @Merz
As I said, there are many leading virologists, immunologists and doctors who disagree with you—they assert we know enough to go ahead now and the benefits are worth it—but that is not my debate to have. The field can do that. I'll advocate that the UK collect data a la RECOVERY.
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Replying to @Merz
I can't resolve the debate nor do I have a survey! But many of the visible ones, as you call them, are pretty senior and their credentials are impeccable, as are those disagreeing. Spacing advocates are taking a riskier position, so they clearly believe it's worth it.
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I just hope UK does collect data, and I was hoping we would get started ASAP so it would come down less to thoughtful, unresolved debate but to solid evidence. I really do not, and obviously cannot, make a claim on what's going to work.
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