The Victorian government, like other state governments in Australia, hosts Covid-19 pages on its website with useful information about prevention (get a vaccine), health (get a vaccine) and treatment (get a vaccine). As the only way of remaining healthy is to get a vaccine and the only treatment is a vaccine, we thought we’d better check the facts on the site about Covid-19 vaccines.
Let’s list the facts:
Vaccines are strictly tested for safety
Before COVID-19 vaccines are used in Australia, they must pass strict safety standards set by Australia’s independent medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The COVID-19 vaccines being used in Australia have been used by hundreds of millions of people around the world. As at 15 September 2021, more than 14 million people across Australia have now received their first dose of this vaccine.
Both vaccines are very effective at preventing infection with COVID-19, and serious illness from COVID-19, including new variants of COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccines are free, safe and voluntary. Choosing to get vaccinated helps protect ourselves, our families and our community.
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/about-covid-19-vaccines
Fact check (“safety standards”): the TGA didn’t check the vaccines for safety and didn’t carry out any independent evaluation. Instead, they used studies provided by the companies. Patently False.
Fact check (“very effective at preventing infection”): Pfizer and Moderna were not tested on efficacy in preventing infection when approved by the FDA. Some studies have show that these vaccines have high efficacy against early variants of Covid, however there are none that show high efficacy against the delta variant, which is prevalent in Australia. Clearly False.
Fact check (“vaccines are free”): Vaccines are paid for by your tax dollars. Or, more specifically, part of the $30 billion new debt the government is adding this year — around $4,500 per resident. So vaccines are a burden the next generation will have to toil under. So vaccines are about as free as a mortgage. i.e. False.
Fact check (“vaccines are safe”): Vaccines are only safe for those who don’t have adverse events. In the phase III trials, around 20% of patients didn’t have adverse events within the first few weeks, so it’s more accurate to say Covid-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe for a minority of subjects. Over the course of their use in Australia, 64,293 adverse events have been reported, including 564 deaths. As most adverse events are not reported, it is probably well over 1,000 dead and a million adverse events. So it’s more accurate to say “vaccines are safe for most people.” Let’s call it 80% True.
Fact check: (“vaccines are voluntary”): Technically this is true. So are jobs. From October 15, the law in Victoria will be “No jab no job.” So we’d have to call this one False.
Fact check: (“Choosing to get vaccinated helps protect ourselves, our families and our community”): There is evidence that vaccines prevent death and serious illness. So if you are over 60, it may even be worth the risk. However there’s no indication that vaccines reduce transmission of the delta variant. Furthermore, as this virus is going to be prevalent in the community forever (just like the H1N1 virus of the 2009 pandemic) it’s probably better for kids to get exposed to the virus early and develop immunity to it. The best protection for the community is early exposure to the virus while young and healthy. We’ll call this one mainly False.
Vaccine side effects
Common reactions to COVID-19 vaccinations include:
– pain where you had the injection
– tiredness
– muscle aches
– headache
– fever and chills
– joint pain.
These are expected side effects that are generally mild and on average last a day or two. Serious side effects like allergic reactions or anaphylaxis are extremely rare.
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/about-covid-19-vaccines
Fact check (“Serious side effects… are extremely rare”): Stoneman Syndrome is extremely rare. It affects one person in 2 million (about 12 people in Australia). Compared to this, 564 deaths doesn’t seem to be extremely rare. Obviously False.
COVID-19 vaccines are created following strong ethical standards
There are strong ethical standards surrounding the use of cells in vaccine development. COVID-19 vaccines meet these standards.
There are no foetal cells in the COVID-19 dose (injection) that you receive.
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/about-covid-19-vaccines
Fact check (logic of above argument): The absence of foetal cells or tissue in COVID-19 injections is not evidence of strong ethical standards. On the contrary, breaking the law 71 times in the past 21 years may indicate ethical standards aren’t really a thing at Pfizer. Bullshit.
COVID-19 variants
All viruses evolve over time. This includes SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
When a virus spreads through a community, it makes more copies of itself. When the virus makes copies, it sometimes changes a little bit. These changes are called mutations. A virus with one or more new mutations is called a ‘variant’ of the original virus. AstraZeneca Pfizer, and Moderna vaccines are very effective in preventing serious illness or hospitalisation from COVID-19.
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/about-covid-19-vaccines
Fact check (logic of above argument): There is no logic nor link between the heading and claim. Laughable.
Useful Australian Government resources
Which COVID-19 vaccine will I receive?
The Better Health Channel’s information page on vaccines
Australian Government Department of Health: Are COVID-19 vaccines safe?
View AusVaxSafety’s latest national COVID-19 vaccine safety data – including the percentage of people who have reported side effects
Australian Government Department of Health’s ‘how immunisation works’ web page
COVID-19 frequently asked questions
Australian Government COVID-19 vaccine program: When will I get a COVID-19 vaccine?
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/about-covid-19-vaccines
Fact check (“useful”): None of the above sites haven anything useful such as treatment of Covid (e.g. vitamin D) or preparation for Covid (e.g. go outside and stay healthy). False.
Fact check (“Australian Government”): 6 links were Australian government. The rest were industry groups and WHO. Idiotic
There was more on the site, but let’s face it, nobody really expects the Victorian government to tell the truth any more.
Just go vaccinated and stop protesting. Protests are illegal and soon the unwashed unvaxxed will be too.
Peter.
