Posted by Facebook keeps telling me to add a “frame” around my profile picture to advertise that I’ve been vaccinated from COVID-19. It’s disturbing. What business is my personal medical history to Facebook? Do they also offer the “I had my appendix removed” frame?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed to protect private health information. While you’re always welcomed to sign away your privacy, for example, so another doctor can access your medical records, why would you ever want Facebook to have your private medical information?
It feels like a full-court press from the government and media to take the jab, and I fear it’s only going to get worse. Europe has already established standards for vaccine passports for intercountry travel. Don’t worry, they’re keeping the US government “closely consulted” to adopt those standards as well.
But what is the reality? Even in one of the most progressive counties in the country, King County, Washington, we’re starting to see a decline in vaccination numbers. The top elected official here, King County Executive Dow Constantine, posts incessantly on Twitter urging vaccination. They can’t give them away. “Literally tens of thousands of slots available.”
And the data supports this – fewer people are getting the jab despite availability open to all as of April 15. The 7-day average of # of people vaccinated declined from 130k+ people in early April down to under 100k as of now, a 28% decline. You know me – of course, I modeled the data. The model shows that vaccination rates have reached a tipping point and will start trending down pretty quickly. The model says that we’ll max out around 72% of people in King County getting vaccinated. I bet the number is lower in more conservative parts of the country.
Should you get the COVID-19 vaccine? Frankly, it’s none of my business and you should talk to your doctor. But we all should be concerned about a decrease in medical privacy and infringement on our rights. If you choose not to get the jab, that should be your right, and you should not be ostracised from society or the economy for your personal medical decision. Know that you’re not alone.