How many Americans will dithering kill?

[Atticus]

Why are we not REQUIRING covid vaccinations for just about everyone? The vaccines have not gone through the usual FDA process for full "approval", but are authorized for emergency use. This is an emergency.

Right now, 99.2% of the covid cases are UNvaccinated people and the latest "variant", Delta, is much much more transmissible. Variants are caused by mutations that occur relatively rarely when the virus replicates itself in a newly infected person. And, even though these mutations are rare, as long as millions of unvaccinated people are available as "hosts", odd are that more variants will be created.

We KNOW that mass vaccinations would save tens or hundreds of thousands of American lives. The writing on the wall predicts a likely resurgence of covid cases beginning this fall, primarily among the millions of the unvaccinated.

When cases increase, hospitalizations increase.

When hospitalizations increase, deaths increase.

And, while we vaccinated folks are well-protected against the original covid virus and all known variants, what about the variants yet to rise from among the unvaccinated who will be the petri dishes in which the mutations can survive and flourish?

"Dithering"---not a very exciting term but it may be the death of someone we know; someone we love.

[iemanja]

1. I don't think the federal government can legally force people

to be vaccinated. Employers can though.

[Atticus]

2. IMHO, the federal government does whatever it decides is necessary. nt

[unblock]

5. True, in an emergency. Governments are good at breaking the rules then.

As did ours, just not in a good way....

[unblock]

4. But it could take enough actions to make refusal very expensive and inconvenient

Double income tax rates, but waive that doubling for anyone vaccinated (or with a *medical* waiver -- no "religious" waivers)

Require vaccine documentation for any interaction with federal employees, in federal buildings, with federal government contractors, etc.

Fine employers for not requiring it and enforcing it

Shut down food facilities without 100% vaccination among staff and customers

Etc.

[iemanja]

6. I don't see how the income tax thing could work

I expect many vaccinated people don't have a card proving their vaccinations, and it's easy for the anti-vaxxers to lie on their taxes forms.

Your other methods may be plausible. Still, it would have to make it through RW courts because it would be challenged.

[unblock]

8. I could be off on specifics, but there are many ways the government could do that if they wanted to

We're not doing that because the government as a whole doesn't want to, and that is obviously because of far too many idiotic republicans, both in the courts and congress.

The really ridiculous thing is how bananas they are going over such ludicrously tame government encouragement to wear masks and get vaccinated.

From their speeches and anger you'd think the government was kidnapping people in the middle of the night to give them the vaccine.

[iemanja]

10. They are milking it

to stoke the culture wars. They are liars at their core.

[multigraincracker]

3. I wonder if they aren't getting

shingles and tetanus? I wish them well with those too.

[Murphyb849]

7. I defer to France. Over one million booked a vaccine after needed to dine out etc.

Anything other than medical care or food during "unvaccinated" hours should be only for us vaccinated people. We shouldn't hide from republican serial killers. France is making all the perks vaccine required. Let them stay home and enjoy their covid. I don't want it.

[Strelnikov_]

9. Medical Insurance . . . Proof of vaccination 75% premium discount.

(Actually, it would be not getting hit with a 400% un-vaccinated markup)

It's the magic of the free market.