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I know this is making the rounds of the 'covid vaccine bad'[0] crowd, but isn't it the case that the yearly flu vaccine doesn't guarantee immunity? How has such a vaccine been flying by with such a potential danger present?

[0]https://youtu.be/tiwsv51Il4k?t=98

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I don't believe it's a matter of 100% guarantee of immunity. The current covid vaccines are designed to prevent severe infection, NOT prevent infection. My understanding is that the current vaccines ~95% efficacy is against severe infection, but we don't actually know what the efficacy against infection is.

If you compare this to say smallpox vaccine, it is 95% effective at preventing infections. https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/7022/

The 95% efficacy statistic was ultimately a positive PCR test, i.e. infection or a 'case' of the disease.

Yes, but only symptomatic folks were tested.

What fraction of people take the annual flu vaccine?

That’s a pretty straightforward question to find the answer to - it’s just a bit under half, whith kids and seniors being more likely to get it.

[1] https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-americans-get-flu-sho...

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