Why Have Any COVID-19 Vaccines, 2025?
Five years on, SARS–CoV–2 is a ghost.
It's not the beast it was (or was purported to be); yet (as of this last 'flu season') young medical students were still required to get the 'jab.'
The current iteration of coronavirus, Omicron, LP.8.1–feels like a cold now, nothing more – moreover, its epitope is not even included in the 'bivalent' Covid vaccine handed out, 2025.
Prior to 2003's SARS, coronaviruses were just that: colds, the kind you shook off with soup and sleep.
No one demanded shots. No one cared. So why are we still doing this? The numbers, the past, the plain truth say it's hollow—a rule for the sake of rules.
Back in 2020, the virus (or the overreaction to it) hit like a storm.
Hospitals were packed. People died–350,000 in the US, mostly old, mostly sick – either 'from' or 'with' coronavirus.
Kids? They were fine.
The American Academy of Pediatrics counted 112 deaths under 18 by December—0.005% of cases; however, those children had problems: diabetes, obesity, and bad lungs. Healthy ones sneezed and moved on. Medical students, in their 20s, were close behind. The CDC pegged that age group's mortality rate at 0.02%–1,200 out of 6 million cases. Two percent landed in hospitals; near zero needed ICUs. There was no real danger for them, 2020 – and beyond.
Now it's 2025. The virus hasn't vanished, but it's weak. Immunity—from shots, or from previously having contracted one or another of the Covid variant strains–covers essentially everyone.
The current Omicron virus is no monster.
It's a nuisance– moreover, it's likely conflated with background 'common cold' coronavirus.
Omicron showed up in 2021, spread like crazy, but didn't hit hard. My 2022 piece 'Is it Time to Accept That Omicron is not COVID-19?' noted it was not even genomically and offspring of Covid-19—just another coronavirus, like the ones that give you a runny nose.
The current version is much weaker.
So what's the reason for medical students' 'booster' mandates' continuation?
The shots aren't harmless.
Myocarditis hits young guys–1–10 per 100,000 mRNA doses, says a 2022 JAMA study. Medical schools, in particular, should know better. They should move away from anachronistic, lockstep, doctrinaire mandates.
In February 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order prohibiting federal funding for educational institutions that mandate Covid–19 vaccines for in–person attendance. Medical schools reliant on federal funds may reconsider these pointless mandates, paeans to outdated orthodoxy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Insider
2 days ago
- Gulf Insider
Average Age Of US Women Giving Birth Increases To Nearly 30: CDC
The average age of women giving birth in the United States is now close to 30 years, with the percentage of first births falling among young females, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a June 13 National Vital Statistics report. The mean age at birth for all mothers increased from 28.7 in 2016 to 29.6 in 2023, according to the report. For first births, the average age rose from 26.6 years to 27.5 during this period. The percentage of first births rose by 12.6 percent in women aged 30-34 and by 25 percent for women aged 35 and above. In contrast, the percentage of first births among women aged 20-24 declined by 9 percent, and for those younger than 20 by 26 percent. 'Higher maternal age is linked to smaller family size on average and may carry different health risks and benefits compared with younger maternal age,' the CDC said. 'The findings of this analysis suggest that U.S. women may be continuing to delay motherhood,' it added. 'Motherhood is increasingly delayed across most races and Hispanic-origin groups.' Asian mothers saw the largest increase in average age at first birth of 1.4 years. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander mothers had the smallest increase at 0.4 years. A 2023 study published by PubMed Central showed that women were delaying childbearing due to factors such as education, participation in the labor market, and shifting personal preferences. 'Access to safe, efficient, and reversible pregnancy prevention methods' has also contributed to delayed childbearing in women, it said. Click here to read more…
Gulf Insider
3 days ago
- Gulf Insider
Why Have Any COVID-19 Vaccines, 2025?
Five years on, SARS–CoV–2 is a ghost. It's not the beast it was (or was purported to be); yet (as of this last 'flu season') young medical students were still required to get the 'jab.' The current iteration of coronavirus, Omicron, LP.8.1–feels like a cold now, nothing more – moreover, its epitope is not even included in the 'bivalent' Covid vaccine handed out, 2025. Prior to 2003's SARS, coronaviruses were just that: colds, the kind you shook off with soup and sleep. No one demanded shots. No one cared. So why are we still doing this? The numbers, the past, the plain truth say it's hollow—a rule for the sake of rules. Back in 2020, the virus (or the overreaction to it) hit like a storm. Hospitals were packed. People died–350,000 in the US, mostly old, mostly sick – either 'from' or 'with' coronavirus. Kids? They were fine. The American Academy of Pediatrics counted 112 deaths under 18 by December—0.005% of cases; however, those children had problems: diabetes, obesity, and bad lungs. Healthy ones sneezed and moved on. Medical students, in their 20s, were close behind. The CDC pegged that age group's mortality rate at 0.02%–1,200 out of 6 million cases. Two percent landed in hospitals; near zero needed ICUs. There was no real danger for them, 2020 – and beyond. Now it's 2025. The virus hasn't vanished, but it's weak. Immunity—from shots, or from previously having contracted one or another of the Covid variant strains–covers essentially everyone. The current Omicron virus is no monster. It's a nuisance– moreover, it's likely conflated with background 'common cold' coronavirus. Omicron showed up in 2021, spread like crazy, but didn't hit hard. My 2022 piece 'Is it Time to Accept That Omicron is not COVID-19?' noted it was not even genomically and offspring of Covid-19—just another coronavirus, like the ones that give you a runny nose. The current version is much weaker. So what's the reason for medical students' 'booster' mandates' continuation? The shots aren't harmless. Myocarditis hits young guys–1–10 per 100,000 mRNA doses, says a 2022 JAMA study. Medical schools, in particular, should know better. They should move away from anachronistic, lockstep, doctrinaire mandates. In February 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order prohibiting federal funding for educational institutions that mandate Covid–19 vaccines for in–person attendance. Medical schools reliant on federal funds may reconsider these pointless mandates, paeans to outdated orthodoxy.
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Daily Tribune
‘COVID Legacy Powers Safety'
TDT | Manama Bahrain's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has laid the foundation for a far-reaching transformation in civil protection and crisis governance, according to a senior lawmaker. MP Dr. Maryam Al-Dhaen said the Kingdom's pandemic response had demonstrated how trust, innovation, and citizen participation could be channelled into a long-term national safety strategy. That experience, she noted, has now evolved into an integrated civil defence model focused on readiness, technology, and shared responsibility. She pointed to current efforts that embed digital tools into emergency response frameworks, while simultaneously empowering society at large to play a greater role in public safety. Smart tools, safer citizens One of the most visible changes is the rollout of the 'BeAware Bahrain' mobile application, which offers users real-time alerts, safety guidance, and interactive support in emergency scenarios. Dr. Al-Dhaen described the app as a key part of Bahrain's shift from reactive crisis response to proactive community protection. Complementing the app is the National Civil Protection Platform, an institutional framework designed to unify state and community efforts under a common strategy. The platform, she said, reinforces Bahrain's advanced security culture and promotes an environment of resilience and awareness. Shared responsibility The government's civil protection efforts also include expanding the scope of preparedness across different sectors. Dr. Al-Dhaen highlighted the recent civil defence training sessions conducted for Members of Parliament, calling it a clear sign that the responsibility for public safety is being shared across institutions. 'The concept of safety in Bahrain has become a shared responsibility between state institutions and society,' she said, noting that awareness campaigns and simulations have now reached multiple levels of government and civil society. Leadership and coordination Dr. Al-Dhaen credited His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for leading a crisis governance model that prioritises regional stability and domestic readiness. She also praised the active role of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in monitoring emergency procedures and enhancing national preparedness. She further commended the Civil Defence Council, chaired by His Excellency Lieutenant General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, for its role in strengthening preventive measures and coordination across agencies. In closing, Dr. Al-Dhaen said Bahrain's civil protection system today reflects the lessons of its pandemic response, turning past challenges into future safeguards.
