This post has taken me too long to get up the guts to write.
You see I'm a Professor in Public Health. One of the most important things in public health is "to do no harm". Or at least in a more practical sense, have the good by far outweigh the harms you cause with whatever intervention you choose.
This is about vaccine mandates. It's a complex and emotive issue.
The brutal truth is that there are no harm free choices here. All choices will have some harm.
But, deadlines are coming - here's our Ministry of Health's advice under public orders "Any health and disability workers (employed or voluntary, private and public) who fall under these roles must receive their first dose of the vaccine by 11.59pm 15 November 2021. They must receive their second dose by 1 January 2022."
That's Monday folks.
I'm not an “anti-vaxxer". I'm fully vaccinated.
But some people will choose not to follow these orders for various reasons. Some of them may be logical based on the data that there is no protection beyond 200 days, and the data on reductions in transmission are limited, and they are concerned about adverse events.
We all make different decisions given similar data because we are all different and have different ways of weighing risks and benefits. They may see the futility of a public health system which would on current evidence have to boost every 120-150 days to maintain vaccine efficacy. Or maybe they just don't like being told what to do, or have a more complex theory which may be spurious. Who really knows?
Anyway, the point is that there will always be a group who for whatever reason decides that, in this case, their bodily sovereignty, is sacred to them and they will refuse a public health order like this.
What this means is on Monday kids will turn up to school and their classroom teacher will no longer be there, that their mid-wife will no longer be working, that their doctor is no longer able to practice.
This will cause serious harm. It almost certainly will mean that our already overwhelmed health and education systems will not have the staff to carry out normal duties.
This debate has already caused substantial harm and division in our beautiful country.
I believe in the context of the recent Swedish data showing vaccine waning, that it's now obvious to any thinking person the futility of these mandates.
We can predict that the exact thing we are trying to avoid "overwhelming the health system" is exactly what we are going to do by firing health workers.
What government puts on its own handcuffs on and throws away the key?
This isn't us.
So sorry I can't stand by silently and watch this. I have to say something.
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to pluck up the courage.
Sorry if this upsets you, but come Monday I know of real teachers, real GPs, real mid-wives, real physios, real people without jobs. Real communities without their beloved teachers and health professionals who are here to care for them. These are my communities, my friends, my school.
These are mostly not lunatic fringe anti-vaxxers. They are people often making their own rationale decision. Yes its different than mine, but it is theirs.
I fear we are choosing more harm than good, and in my field that's just not acceptable. In fact it’s unethical and immoral.
Please think about what your thoughts are on this matter. It is really an important one for our society right now. Saying nothing when you think there will be more harm than good is complicit in supporting that harm.
Please comment, share, or do whatever you think is right here. Please if you do comment think about what you say and please confront the issues not the person.
Thanks for reading this,
Grant Schofield PhD
Professor of Public Health*disclaimer - these views are mine and don’t represent those of anyone else, including those who employ me.
muddyriver
Posts
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Too many boys from bad nz 20s teams getting gigs.
Too many 2nd tier players gone.
But realistically highlanders are just reverting back to type after another golden period . -
@dogmeat I swear I had 10 arguments all about transmission on this website.
Trust the science boys....
I referenced studies showing no transmission differences in vaxed vs unvaxed on population level.
Also that it was more dangerous for young people under 25 to get the vax than actual covid. All since has been studied and looks to be correct.
Fuck anyone who peer pressured people to get it based on saving grandma and grandpa
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@taniwharugby
Every thing you have written there is controlled by the coaches and trainers I think alot of the boys have gone backwards. I too was quite excited by this squad. But I think northland has well underperformed again for the 3rd year in a row.2017 should have done much better maybe won it.
2018 I believe rangers brilliance covered woefully coached backs.
This year has been dire besides set piece. -
@mariner4life yea people hate on the sweeden response, but their death rate did not even breach the annual mean death rate ranges.
Pretty clear covid mostly kills those who are about to die. And % of unfortunate.
If you do a full cost benefit analysis the sweeden response is pretty good. With a bit of hindsight they could have done a few things(resthomes) much better.
I assume they have a great health care system and very healthy population so most countries probably perform worse with the same strat . Although they could have learnt from their mistakes.
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@delicatessen
I think there is many more variables into why NZ 7s dropped off.
The world putting some kind of effort into 7's being the main one.
-More players heading overseas (general depth erosion of NZ Rugby)
-7s becoming its own sport meaning players had to commit more.
-other teams adapting and evolving, which I don't think NZ did.Under Titch in the end we were playing an awful crash ball wide style which I guess kind of suited the cattle he picked but ultimately didn't work.
He also did nothing special with Samoa that showed he was kind of done. great career but time moves on. The stories I've heard of camps he would train were horrendous on the field and in the kitchen and i know most people think that make players better but, there are clear limits to adaption and thats well beyond it. -
@taniwharugby i never liked him but lam was an absolute freak in the 2015 mitre 10 cup. I think he done his ACL in the preseason of super rugby straight after so bad timing. Not really Tana's fault.
Blues general play attack was just clueless last night. Funny thing is everyone in rugby attacks very similar in the 1-33-1 shape but the blues just can't seem to create anything out of it. The small things like running square and details around passing are just not there. Last night many times they had overlaps but the defense was able to shit it down fairly easy. Dumb miss passes and lack of square threatening running.
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@godder I'm going to give the genetics call a big fat nope.
While there is variability in peoples natural fat levels. Being obese at the rates in western society is not genetic and that is simply not debatable.
Obese people have resulted in 78% of hospitalizations in the USA according to one study.
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@Chris nock is my bolter for the all blacks next year. Really coming of age.
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@Crucial yep the best one to watch is the NBA guys, they hire multiple personal coaches each to go over the minor details in dribbling shot slections and setups. its really amazing.
Kicking is a massive skill with a number of components that could go wrong, go watch rugby bricks and see peter breens take on alot of the kicking and passing skills. If you dont know what your looking for then you wont find it. Golf swings and kicking are extremely similar skills overall
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12 year Olds cannot play sport right now if they're not vaxxed. That's is huge over reach for something that offers those 12 year Offers little benefit to them, with uncommon but severe risks.
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@yeetyaah i feel the chiefs connect with there waikato and counties province well. Thats probably the same for for the 5 main cities/franchises where the NPC teams play in front of empty stands. Definitly wellington and waikato anyway
I feel in northland most people are more supportive of the Taniwha than any super Rugby side, and that is probably reflected in our stadium numbers.
I am on record last year advocating for a comp like this. Was the perfect time. Even an NRL type scenario with NZ 10 teams 5 aussie teams. Aussies would be very strong obviously but thatd be great.
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@Crucial there's always luck involved In a round Robin comp regardless.
This blues team is still very competitive. Morale is high and the gameplan is going well.
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@nepia yea this is retarded. every team in NZ plays either 1-3-3-1 or slight variations of that.
so at any one time you have 2 guys playing that spot out wide -
@african-monkey when the offer is Super plus NPC, id say thats a very very easy decision. and the right one, without doubt
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Jacobson has great fine skills. Off loads and line running. He also is very physical in the tackle and clean out. I rate him highly at 6 or 8. His head knocks have held him back a bit. I think he has a solid chance at the 6 jersey too.
Sotutu, Obviously bigger, probably has better fine skills and slightly more dynamic. But has had an average year. If Sotutu is at potential, he is ahead of jacobson at 8, but right now he is not. Had good game for counties but nothing special
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@tim I've never seen anything from riccitelli for me to think he is above mitre10
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@Nepia cane is doing a good job there regardless. If he throws too much intent he risks a card as the guy is well chopped.
Can stays high in the line and helps dislodge the ball. See ardie fades off and looks for the jackal, different intents from 2 inside defenders.
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The new rule in NPC will be interesting around water breaks, they are limited to one per half.
cutting the amount of props lying on the ground getting a rest is a great idea,
I would go as far as completely eliminating the TMO apart from try scoring actions one phase max. TMO is a huge blight on the game atm and makes everything look bad in slowmo.
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Italy has the 2nd oldest average age after japan
Coronavirus - New Zealand
Highlanders v Sharks
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Northland vs BOP
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Foster, Robertson, Rennie etc
Blues v Highlanders
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Who will get a first SR contract ?
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One domestic NZ competition?
Waratahs v Blues
All Blacks 2021
Auckland Rugby 2021
Hansen/Foster's recent selection philosophy & the consequences it has on team balance (back-row, back-three, bench etc..)
Blues 2022
All Blacks 2022
The Current State of Rugby
Coronavirus - Overall