Even assuming the estimate of risk given there is correct, and even ignoring the evidence for persistent damage not infrequently arising from non-lethal cases, it’s really odd to me how cavalier people are about that 0.5% risk of death. That’s 1 in 200, so it’s not huge, sure- but if you gave me the choice between running that risk or taking a shot, I know which I would go for. It would even be too high a price for a night out with my friends.
Like, a 1-in-200 chance of losing all the hopes you had for your life and instead dying an agonizing death in some overcrowded ICU, doesn’t sound like it should be treated lightly.