You are taking this course online due to COVID-19. The media’s perception of COVID-19 is different than the perception of many people including scientists. You will rarely hear it in the mainstream media, but there are studies demonstrating that masks, even N-95 masks, do not stop transmission of the virus. More so, you can test positive and not have symptoms or transmit the virus. And, the statistics show that the average age dying is 72 or so, and if you are young and healthy, it is highly unlikely you will die from it, even if infected with it. All of that information and more is based on science. Not the “science” the mainstream media is using, especially Gavin Newsom, but it is still science. See what a Stanford Professor has to say about lockdowns, etc.., https://www.newsweek.com/jay-bhattacharya-stanford-doctor-says-reversing-covid-lockdown-damage-will-take-generation-1575522 (Links to an external site.) I have lost three extended family members due to COVID-19. They were in Mexico, an elderly couple and their son. Their son was an MD, he brought the virus home and all three of them died. They all had multiple health conditions. About 20% of my family has either tested positive or has been sick with COVID-19. Most had a mild flu, one got very sick but wasn’t hospitalized. So please understand, I am not speaking without experience on this, as you may be as well. I am not denying the virus makes people sick, it is real. It changes lives and impacts families greatly. But since this is a critical thinking class, I want you to consider two questions.1) Are you aware that the vaccines may not stop you from getting the virus–all they will do is lessen the severity and mortality of it? (read this if interested https://www.sciencenews.org/article/covid-19-coronavirus-vaccines-questions-social-distance-mask-transmission (Links to an external site.))2) Read this article, https://www.kare11.com/article/news/verify/verify-keep-wearing-mask-after-coronavirus-vaccine/507-3b049d6f-2bf7-4823-8725-c4de8bf25240 (Links to an external site.) , and consider this question. In the article the MD says, What we won’t know for months, or even longer, is “whether the vaccines protect against asymptomatic infection and whether they stop virus transmission,” he said. Supposing that quote is true, does the general public understand the limitations of the vaccines and is there any assurance the vaccines, social distancing, and masks will end this?* Explain. *Note CDC recently stated that even if you’re vaccinated you shouldn’t travel. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cdc-endorsing-travel-vaccinated-individuals-risks-surge-cases/story?id=76324933 (Links to an external site.) Some Additional InformationIf you haven’t read the vaccine information sheets, you might want to:https://www.fda.gov/media/146305/download (Links to an external site.) Johnson and Johnson Vaccine, please note two things on the first page: “It may not protect everyone” and “..it is an unapproved vaccine.” Did you hear that in the media?https://www.fda.gov/media/144414/download (Links to an external site.)Pfizer Vaccine, please note two things on the first page: “It may not protect everyone” and “..it is an unapproved vaccine.” Did you hear that in the media? https://www.fda.gov/media/144638/download (Links to an external site.) Moderna Vaccine, please note two things on the first page: “It may not protect everyone” and “..it is an unapproved vaccine.” Did you hear that in the media?Most flu vaccines are effective about 50-60% of the time, but they stop transmission when they are effective. Outside of a recent study in Israel, there is no clear indication these vaccines directly stop transmission. They may do it through other means, but that is indirect. The “unapproved vaccine” simply means it has not gone through the whole process but has been released because there isn’t anything better currently available. You can see this on the last two pages of each insert when they talk about the EUA.For the vast majority of people, at least short term, the vaccines are working. They are preventing deaths, which is what they were designed for. Long term effects are unknown. The Mrna vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, are new technology. The Johnson and Johnson adenovirus technology has been used before with an ebola vaccine. But the AstraZenica adenovirus vaccine has been pulled in other countries at this point, it hasn’t been approved for the USA. There are other variants too the Sputnik vaccine from Russia and the Sinovac vaccine from China. These latter two have been used in Mexico recently. Should you get the vaccine? You should follow the medical advice of someone who knows your health and your risk factors. People with diabetes, who are older, overweight, with high blood pressure, etc…are at a greater risk of death than someone who doesn’t have them. Roughly, 330 million people in the USA, some 500 thousand have died from COVID (not questioning that data which may be high due to counting COVID as the primary cause and not the cofactors mentioned). 330,000,000/500,000 = .15 percent of the population died from COVID in total.However review this,https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm (Links to an external site.)More people will likely die of heart disease or cancer this year than COVID, remember that is the total COVID number spanning over two years now. Does that put things in a different perspective for you? Were you aware of the cancer and heart disease numbers? And those are yearly. Where is the concern for correcting that? Heart disease in particular is something that can be corrected in many people with proper diet, exercise, and avoiding some habits (smoking, etc…), especially when done throughout a lifetime. But COVID…. Final ThoughtsI present this here for your information and to see if what the media has told you is the same as the “official information” and other information that is out there in the public, but not covered. These are all common or accepted sources, some media, some government, and still others from the manufacturers themselves. Fear and emotion drive people more than reason, but if we are to be critical thinkers we need to be at least fair to reason in the process and see what it reveals too. Only then can you begin to consider yourself informed.