Typically a virus weakens as it mutates so either they’re lying or this is the original variant getting worse. On a side note, I have a feeling the white man will be set up to blame because since we’re getting far closer to herd immunity due to the vaccine, they’ll state this is the result of the vaccine causing the virus to be “locked” in India. We will then have to send trillions of dollars because “we’re racists”.
We are already at herd immunity in most places in the country, but the vaccine did not have much to do with it.
In the long run, I have more hope for the antiviral treatments than the vaccines. And when viruses are very treatable in the early stages, avoiding severe illness and hospitalization, the fear and stigma of “catching the virus” is massively reduced, reducing the ability of governments to force 100% of societies into vaccines.
Half or more of the population never gets the flu vaccine. I never have and never had a severe flu illness. We all can get the flu any year. When we do, for most people it is very treatable.
Two categories of folks most vulnerable to the flu - young children and older folks with long term systemic problems involving heart, lungs, diabetes or obesity are those who are encouraged the most and who mostly do participate in the flu vaccine. It will become the same with the Wuhan Virus in time. It will be treatable in most cases and the most vulnerable will be encouraged to, and will, take the vaccine.