Commentary

Category Archives for Commentary.

No, Flying After Vaccination Isn’t Like “Walking Into A Fire”

by Gary Leff on April 13, 2021

Apr 13 2021

On Meet The Press an infectious diseases expert gave this scary – and completely misleading – take on flying after being vaccinated against Covid-19: “Let me just give an example on the airplane flight. When you get vaccinated, it’s like buying a fireproof suit that works 90 to 95 percent of the time. But it doesn’t work all the time. So why want to walk into a big fire if you don’t have to?”

This completely misrepresents the risk of Covid-19, and how vaccine effectiveness is reported.

Extreme Vaccine Passports: Only Vaccinated Are Permitted To Flee Volcano Eruption

by Gary Leff on April 13, 2021

Apr 13 2021

The Caribbean island of St. Vincent is facing a disaster after the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano there which has been dormant since 1979. Residents in the north were evacuated. Cruise ships, with nowhere to no and no passengers to sail, positioned to take refugees to neighboring islands. But there was a problem, according to the Prime Minister: to enter neighboring islands they’d need to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Biden Administration Talking To Airlines About Creation Of Vaccine Passports

by Gary Leff on April 7, 2021

Apr 07 2021

he U.S. federal government isn’t going to require vaccine passports for citizens, nor are citizens going to be required to get vaccinated (though failing to require vaccination in exchange for $1400 stimmy checks was a huge lost opportunity in the fight against the pandemic).

However the Biden administration is working on standards to allow for vaccine passports, and has been in talks with airlines about creating them. The White House says it will offer its guidance for moving forward “soon.”

Is This The Worst Argument Yet Against Vaccine Passports?

by Gary Leff on April 6, 2021

Apr 06 2021

Vaccine passports can be a temporary tool that allows travel to re-open. Since several Covid-19 vaccines have been shown not just to protect the person that’s vaccinated, but also to prevent spread, they can help assure a country that visitors who have had a shot are less likely to infect their citizens with the virus.

There are complex arguments – both practical and ethical – around vaccine passports. But this celebrity doctor’s complaint about them seems ignorant of the facts..

This Travel Blogger Makes Huge Mistake Refusing To Get Vaccinated

by Gary Leff on April 3, 2021

Apr 03 2021

Brian Cohen writes The Gate travel blog and has declared that he will not get vaccinated against Covid-19. I want to take his arguments seriously, because vaccine hesitancy – while continuing to decline – remains one of the major barriers to ending the pandemic.

CDC Revises Guidelines, Now Says If You’re Vaccinated Go Travel!

by Gary Leff on April 2, 2021

Apr 02 2021

For the past few weeks I’ve been making the case that the science is clear, vaccines protect both the person who is vaccinated and protect others from spread. Despite CDC guidance up until now, it makes sense to travel once you’re vaccinated.

Fortunately the CDC has now come around and revised its guidelines to allow travel once you’re vaccinated.

CDC Director Does An About-Face, Says Vaccinated People Don’t Spread The Virus

by Gary Leff on April 1, 2021

Apr 01 2021

There’s very little to worry, then, about vaccinated people getting sick or getting others sick. There’s very little to worry, then, about vaccinated people traveling.

Vaccinated people shouldn’t even need to wear masks, except that it’s difficult to tell who is vaccinated and who isn’t, and it’ll be difficult to manage compliance by the unvaccinated up in the air. That’s why the timetable for lifting air travel mask mandates should be when there’s enough vaccine available that everyone who wants a jab can get one.

CDC Director Makes False Claim About Travel Causing Virus Spread

by Gary Leff on March 30, 2021

Mar 30 2021

The Director of the CDC today urged Americans not to travel, claiming it exacerbates the spread of Covid-19.

However she fails to explain how she thinks this happens, makes no distinction between those who have been vaccinated and those who haven’t been, and offers an argument that is simply false based on the CDC’s own data to bolster her case.

Why The CDC’s Recommendation Against Non-Essential Travel Doesn’t Apply To Joe Biden

by Gary Leff on March 29, 2021

Mar 29 2021

With the CDC continuing to recommend against non-essential travel during the pandemic – even for those that have been vaccinated, despite their own science – a reporter asked the White House Press Secretary whether that guidance applies to the President and Vice President.

Jen Psaki said that it does not. Her reasons why are revealing.

Time To Travel: CDC Study Shows Vaccines Prevent Both Infections And Spread