COVID-19 Megathread 6: Return of the Omicron

[Bismarck]

Wow...this is an interesting article in retrospect by Harry Enten, back when he was still with 538:

Will Trump Make Vaccines Another Partisan Issue?

We’re not sure that vaccines will become polarized along partisan lines. It’s not even clear to what extent Trump will take up the issue. But if he does, don’t be surprised if Republican and Democratic views on vaccines begin to diverge, even as the science stays the same.

Published: Jan. 11, 2017.

What republican is opposing vaccines? Even Trump praised the vaccines and encouraged people to get them in his CPAC speech.

[Bismarck]

I mean you guys sure loved it when Republican congressman tested positive last year. Both this and that are distasteful.

[Bismarck]

And another layer of stupidity from Missouri

https://www.ky3.com/2021/08/03/doctors-warn-not-take-drug-horses-sold-farm-home-stores-treat-covid-19/

People in rural Missouri are rushing out to buy a drug called ivermectin which is used to treat horses for worms and does nothing for Covid in humans.  Vaccine bad, random horse drug good.

What could possibly go wrong.

Ivermectin is also very painful to receive. I used to give it to pigs when I was a kid. They hated it.

[Bismarck]

Here's an updated map of counties that have fully vaccinated 70% of the eligible (12+) population. Counties in white don't have data, or don't release relevant data. (VT publishes only 1st dose data by county. ID only releases data for all citizens and all adults, but not 12+. Blaine County, ID is at 70+% for all citizens, so it can be assumed they have hit 70% of all eligible.)



And the same map for Puerto Rico by municipalities:

You can see the impact of state policy in the Cincy metro. Warren County Ohio is wealthier and more educated than those three Kentucky Counties yet has less vaccinated people.