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Comment by MarcusBrutus | Hacker News Reader

Whenever I read the words "herd immunity" my eyes roll over. It sure feels good to be a free loader every once in a while. And let's not forget that medicine is not engineering or mathematics. I 've met quite a few doctors and my impression is that their average IQ does not compare very favorably with that of coders or engineers. And let's not forget that the medical profession has a very long history of suppressing inconvenient truths or adopting a condescending attitude towards anyone who dare challenge their authority. Plus when I pay a "doctor", I expect him to advise me what's best for me, in my narrow little case, not what's best for the society as a whole. But then again I suppose that if the Government wants me to take those shots it must be for my own good, right? I mean, who am I to decide what chemicals and "weak" viruses get injected into my own body?

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An old riddle asks what you call the guy who graduated last in his medical class: doctor, what else?

But anybody licensed to practice has spent a lot more time studying medicine that your average coder or engineer. Among the matters they have studied is the current best understanding of vaccines. It isn't the guy last in his class who's coming up with the recommendations that the others follow. And what's best for you in your narrow little case is very likely most of the time what's best for the "herd".

Herd immunity is something can be relatively easily shown with mathematics.

A huge amount of research into how vaccines are deployed is, and is done by, people with skill in applied mathematics.

Herd immunity is a "tragedy of the commons" type of game. Case closed. Unless you can prove that a rational actor would chose in his own self-interest to cooperate in which case you might get considered for a Nobel prize in economics.

Whether or not we can achieve herd immunity is a tragedy of the commons type game, though it's hardly "case closed" - I know several researchers working in that particular area. The existence of herd immunity is a relatively easy calculus problem.

Your argument could also be applied to paying taxes, which is why that's legally mandated.

I've met quite a few doctors and my impression is that their average IQ does not compare very favorably with that of coders or engineers.

You have undoubtedly met fewer doctors and fewer coders and engineers than I have. (I'm older than most people on HN.) Anyway, IQ is not the relevant issue. The issue is specific training and clinical experience. For equal IQ scores, I will ask engineers to solve my engineering problems, and doctors to diagnose and treat my diseases. If each professional has passed the required training course and has continued in practice with a license with good reputation, I don't need to ask IQ scores before I seek a doctor or seek a coder. What's important is getting the work done right, and doctors have better background for doing medical work than engineers or coders.

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