SA president Cyril Ramaphosa’s relaxation of Covid-related restrictions last night was accompanied by a strong argument for vaccinations. The former lawyer (above) made his case by drawing on data for the over-60s only from the only DA-run province.
Using Western Cape data from August 14 to 20, CR shared that of the 729 over-60s admitted to hospital, only 30 (4.1%) had been vaccinated. Of the 292 over-60s who died (40% of those hospitalised), 287 were unvaccinated (98%). Ramaphosa said there’s a similar pattern elsewhere in SA.
His rational conclusion: “We know that a vaccinated person can still be infected and can still pass on the virus to others … but very few people who are vaccinated are becoming severely ill with the disease.”
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Another relevant update in the address was that 57% of SA’s over-60s have now been vaccinated. Overlay that with Discovery’s extrapolation that 80% have already been infected – plus that we’re re-entering Covid-unfriendly summer – and there’s cause for optimism that this awful chapter will soon close.
For the BizNews community, Ramaphosa’s lifting of indoor gatherings from 50 to 250 came a fortnight late.
Despite doubling up on participants by holding two simultaneous 50-person “conferences” served by a single stage, we had to turn dozens of people away from our Investment Conference (BNIC#2) earlier this month.
Thankfully no such limit for the March 2022 event (BNIC#3), but even so, it will be best to book early. I’ll share dates, speakers and booking links later in the week.
While the case for efficacy of Covid vaccinations is concrete, as we’re continuously reminded by enthusiasts on our Premium member Covid WhatsApp channel (click here to join) the jabs are not without risk.
Over the weekend I played golf with two 30-somethings who shared that a friend their age died after getting the jab. That’s the second case I’ve heard of directly. Although rare, it is indisputable some are dying as a result of being vaccinated.
Unlike his American counterpart, Ramaphosa “gets” this and has stayed away from decreeing mandatory vaccinations. Perhaps he also read the powerful moral argument against them by HSF research fellow Matthew Kruger. It’s superb and well worth investing some time on.
SA’s president is also keeping options open, for the moment anyway, on “vaccine passports”. Like the rest of us, the president has weaknesses, although not among them is moving too rapidly in any field where public opinion is evolving.
And on Covid, evolving it surely has.
This has been helped by outlier Sweden, whose lockdown-free approach dramatically changed perceptions around Covid-19’s threat to humanity.
So, too, has actual experience. At the outbreak of the pandemic, politicians and medical bureaucrats panicked in the wake of a flood of fake videos and the lamentable Imperial College of London projections of 40m global deaths.
Now, with admittedly imperfect vaccines providing protection for most against dying, Covid-19’s perceived threat has massively moderated. Read, for instance, the report published in today’s WSJ explaining why Covid-19 could become like the Flu if more people get vaccinated.
On the other hand, it’s increasingly appreciated that Covid-19 shots won’t last a lifetime. So, for now, the only long-term protection appears to be natural immunity from actually getting the virus – hopefully mildly as a consequence of being vaccinated. That’s a frightening aspect for the vulnerable 2% of over-60s whom, as CR’s numbers indicate, even if vaccinated still face a mortal threat.
More for you to read today:
* Wall Street analysts warn of a bumpy month of two for the US stock market.
* The US has quantified the tax increases required to pay for Covid-support with a proposed hike from 21% to 26.5% and similar increases in foreign earnings and capital gains. Click here to read the details.
* The Wall Street Journal put together a superb collage of 9/11 focusing on some of those directly affected and where they are now. Click here to access.
* Also from the WSJ – Workers want to do their jobs from anywhere and keep their big city salaries.
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