At this point we can rule out any serious, acute side effects since people aren't dropping like flies after getting vaccinated. What's left are long term side-effects, and in my mind these would have to be pretty severe to compete with "long COVID", which seems to have pretty nasty neurological symptoms in some cases in addition to the characteristic loss of taste/smell.
Have any of the studies released data yet? I was under the impression that even the data from the short term studies wouldn't be released for another couple of years.
It isn't too early to /think/ they are safe (a subjective judgement since they do harm a small percentage of people, just like the debate whether the virus is 'bad' or not). It is impossible to know with certainty if there are long-term effects, and predictions made from past events are obviously uncertain.
Is this a standard that you've applied to all medical care you've ever received, or is this particular to this vaccine? For example, have you ever taken medicine or received a treatment that was invented in the past 50 years, and if so, why didn't you feel the need to wait for an entire human generation to go by first?
Treatment is usually for a condition that is acute or severely altering one's quality of life. The calculation is how any unknown long term sides weigh against the immediate danger or reduction in quality of life. It is an entirely different calculation for a prophylactic that may have unknown side effects.
Good point, tattoos have been around for ever. Bad comparison from me.
I'm actually excited about the new mRNA tech and the massive boost it got from the money during C19. I think lockdown is toxic to society and risks can be taken on vaccines to open things up.
I'm optimistic for humanity and thankful we had a mild-ish pandemic that was fatal for a relatively small percentage, but allowed us to improve our biotech so much in such a short time. This will surely help us next time.
