Misinformation, Unemployment, Vaccinations

Like many things, most people do not educate themselves on things until they have a need to know.  In September 2018, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  After biopsy, I was told that the cancer cells were Her 2 positive, which qualified me to receive immunology drugs Herceptin and Perjecta. I was given a book to read about breast cancer.  It contains a section on the treatment of Her 2 positive with mRNA drugs, also called immunology drugs.  There was no desire within me to know anything about how the drugs were developed or how long they had been used.  All I knew is that treatment was not optional for me.  I wanted and still want to live. 

That was my first knowledge of mRNA science.  mRNA is not an invention.  It’s a discovery.  Messenger RNA (mRNA) was discovered centuries ago.  The motivation to use it to treat or cure disease began in the 1990’s.  The link here is an extensive story of how mRNA was studied to treat disease. 

This year I began speaking with friends about Covid-19 vaccinations and why I did not have to be convinced to get vaccinated – because I already experienced receiving drugs developed using mRNA science.  My only concern was the coverage length for the vaccination. 

 One friend later shared with me how she was talking to others about our conversation.  One person responded that she thought the science was new.  Now that she understood that mRNA science was used to develop cancer treating drugs since the 90’s, she was encouraged to get vaccinated.

Last week, I had an exchange with an individual who I think got her talking points from Tucker Carlson.  I’ve experienced meeting people who grab-on to conspiracy theories. They like to talk in run-on sentences stringing conspiracy theories together.   By putting our exchange here, I can embed links to some of my sources.   

It went like this …

Her:  People aren’t applying for work because of the extra money they are getting on unemployment.

Me:  That might change now that we have vaccinations and people that were laid off are being called to return to work.

Her:  But they aren’t coming back.

Me:  If they don’t, they can disqualify for unemployment benefits.

Her:  They’re using the excuse that they don’t want to get Covid.

Me:  Now, companies can establish their own workplace rules and people can get vaccinated.  If those laid-off do not return to work, I don’t think they will be able to use Covid as an excuse.  They have to be available to work to qualify for unemployment benefits.

Her:  We can’t ask if they’ve been vaccinated.

Me: There’s a big misunderstanding about that.  I don’t think HIPAA applies.  Covid-19 is a public health issue.  It’s contagious.  Can you imagine asking a person who wants intimacy if they have an STD and they reply that you can’t ask because of HIPAA?  If you want to come inside my home, I need to see proof of Covid-19 vaccination. 

Her:  That’s what we were told.  We can’t ask.

Me:  On the matter of refusing to return to work, that should be reported to the Dept. of Employment Security.  You should receive reports from them of unemployed persons who worked for you who are currently collecting unemployment benefits.  If they were called back to work and refused, that should be reported.

Her:  We leave that up to the corporate office.

Me:  So, you really don’t know if the corporate office is reporting back to the government that laid-off workers were called to return to work but refused? 

Her:  I heard that the extra money from the feds will stop in September, but someone has filed a lawsuit to continue the extra payments and as long as the case is pending, the feds will have to continue to pay.

Me:  That doesn’t sound like correct procedure.  If a Plaintiff wants an action to continue, such as distribution of unemployment benefits while the case is pending, they might need to file an injunction or a stay with the court asking that the federal government not end the program in September. Then it’s up to a judge to decide.

Her:  Well, I’m not a lawyer.

Me:  You don’t have to be a lawyer to understand judicial procedure.  Some things are logical.  A government program with an expiration date cannot continue just because someone filed a lawsuit. The government gets to face its accuser.   

(Since this conversation, I researched and found that there is no lawsuit against the federal government to continue unemployment benefits beyond September, 2021.  The Act gave states the right to decide the matter.  That’s logical because unemployment rates differ state to state.  Thus, the only lawsuits I found are against state governors for ending the program sooner.  The only lawsuit I was able to find on this matter that has a preliminary injunction is against the Governor of Maryland.  The court granted a preliminary injunction continuing benefits until Sept. 6th.  That is the date that the federal program expires.)

Her:  Like I said, I’m not a lawyer.  Anyway, even if they got vaccinated, I heard on the news that it’s only good for 90 days.

Me:  I read that those infected who recover have immunity against the virus for 90 days.  If I’m not mistaken, the test groups are still being monitored.   

Her:  Yeah, but they weren’t vaccinated until this year.

Me:  No, the first volunteers received the vaccines in May of last year.  That’s been well over 90 days, actually more than a year.

Her:  I’m just saying what I heard on the news.  And, the science is too new.  Do they really know how long the vaccinations will last.

Me:  It’s not as if we’ve have Covid-19 for 5 years.  It’s a novel virus. Of course, they —-(interrupted)

Her:  See, they don’t know.  They don’t know if it’ll work because the science is too new.

Me:  Science is never new.  Rather, science is discovered.  Man discovers what already exists in nature or creation.   The vaccinations that use mRNA science are not using recently discovered science.  I’ve not researched the Johnson & Johnson vaccination because it wasn’t available for me.  It uses DNA.  But, the drugs that I received for cancer treatment in 2018 and 2019, were developed using mRNA science.  At least one of those drugs was approved by the FDA in 1998. 

The science was not recently discovered, and it’s safe because here I am talking to you almost 2 years after I received the last dose for cancer treatment.

Her:  People are getting the virus anyway.  The vaccinations don’t even work.

Me:  It’s always been reported that none of the Covid-19 vaccinations give 100 percent protection.  The difference is that those vaccinated might not have any symptoms, or mild symptoms.  They don’t have to be admitted to the hospital or worry about dying from Covid. Now, I also understand that even after getting the second shot or the Johnson & Johnson, it takes 2 weeks before the vaccination starts protecting.  That MIGHT be why it’s reported that a very small percentage of persons who have been vaccinated died from Covid.  There’s a possibility they contracted the virus just after they were vaccinated. a

Her:  Someone can sneeze and you can walk through it and get Covid.

Me:  That is why it’s important for those not vaccinated to wear a mask when in public.  As for me, I still wear a mask in public because I don’t want to get sick.  

Her:  I only know what I heard on the news about the recent spread. The vaccinations aren’t working because cases are increasing.

Me:  Cases are increasing because the CDC thought everyone would live by the honor system.  They evidently didn’t consider that unvaccinated people would not wear a mask in public.  In fact, some have are not worn masks.  If anti-maskers assume that everyone else without a mask was vaccinated, they are wrong.  That is why the virus is spreading. The news doesn’t have to tell me to use common sense and do whatever is within my power to protect my health and life.     

Her:  It’s getting late.  I have to go.

(Sigh)