[Paul46360]

Perhaps the most high profile of these was the near-death, on national television, of 24- year-old Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin. Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after a routine hit during a game earlier this month. He was ultimately saved by prompt medical care. But during the drive from the field to the hospital, Hamlin became a potent political symbol.

Across social media, prominent pundits and activists—most on the right but some on the left—tied Hamlin’s injury to the Covid vaccine. “Prior to 2021, athletes collapsing on the field was NOT a normal event. This is becoming an undeniable (and extremely concerning) pattern,” tweeted Lauren Witzke, who was the Republican nominee in the 2020 Delaware Senate race. Social media was abuzz with similar speculation.

A troubled, uncertain public is increasingly turning to a single, ominous explanation for such events: Covid vaccinations, especially those from Pfizer and Moderna that use the new mRNA technology.

On Twitter, an active subculture using variations of the hashtag #DiedSuddenly tracks such unexpected deaths—a teenage basketball player dropping dead; a track star collapsing on the field; a young teacher dying of a heart attack in front of her class—and implies that vaccines are the cause. A discredited anti-vaccine documentary, Died Suddenly, has reportedly been seen by millions. And the night of Hamlin’s collapse, Fox News host Tucker Carlson, referencing a supposed study of sudden deaths among Europeans athletes, made the debunked claim that “Since the vax campaign began, there have been more than 1,500 total cardiac arrests… and two-thirds of those were fatal.”

Is there truth to any of these claims? Is the public right to be concerned? Are there actually more healthy people dropping dead than usual—or is this simply confirmation bias at work? Can we dismiss anything that travels under the banner of “died suddenly” as conspiracy theorizing? And how should we understand why so many Americans are drawn to this explanation?

At least part of the answer to that last question is the serious information void on this subject—which is what we want to remedy in this essay. One of us is a practicing cardiologist (John Mandrola). The other is a practicing hematologist and professor of epidemiology (Vinay Prasad).

Cards on the table: We think the vaccines are an important tool for preventing severe illness and death among vulnerable people—particularly the elderly and those with certain underlying medical conditions. But we have been concerned that our federal officials recklessly continue to push for multiple Covid shots for everyone five years old and up, despite the growing evidence that these vaccines may not be appropriate for all. We are also concerned about the way side effects of the vaccine, particularly among young men, have been downplayed.

For these reasons and more, we believe in being transparent and honest with a public that has lost trust in our essential public health institutions.

[rktman]

I prefer the “I didn’t take it and I’m still here!” bunch. 🔬🦠🤔😵‍💫🚫😷💉🐂💩

[eyeamok]

Why are so many people, many of them quite young and seemingly in the peak of health, dropping dead?

According to the CDC and CNN it was from Climate Change...

[Sicon]

We think the vaccines are an important tool for preventing severe illness and death among vulnerable people—particularly the elderly and those with certain underlying medical conditions.

Funny, they provide no data to support this "thinking". Oh, that's right, because THERE IS NONE.

[Little Pig]

I thought they had figured out that these “Suddenlys” were being caused by loud referee whistles.

[Carriage Hill]

Fair disclosure:

• Pfizer Covid & Flu Shots:
1st Pfizer - Mar 6, 2021
2nd Pfizer - Mar 27, 2021
2021 Fall Flu Shot - Aug 26, 2021
3rd - Pfizer Booster - Nov 2, 2021
4th - Pfizer Booster - July 20, 2022
2022 Fall Flu Shot - Nov 4, 2022

With 7 co-morbidities, 26 Rxs & 9 OTCs, I was under pressure to get the shots. No adverse effects, so far.

But, I WILL NOT GET ANOTHER SHOT!

[JimRed]

We know why. But the research that will prove it is not going to be pursued; there’s too much money at stake.

[Political Junkie Too]

We also need to keep an eye out for unusual single-car accidents now.

I fear that there may be a rise in car accidents due to people dying suddenly behind the wheel of cars. There is already a concern for airline pilots, so we must extend that to cars, buses, long-haul trailer-trucks, and trains, too.

-PJ

[Oscar in Batangas]

I’ll wager that they were 30 minutes late in getting their latest booster clot shot. Ahh if only traffic had not slowed them down.
It’s best to be on time with the scheduling gods if you’re going to follow the science.

[Nifster]

The whole article is a very good read

[mewzilla]

Project Veritas
@Project_Veritas

Hi @pfizer
- ready for round 3?

See you tonight at 8pm.
11:09 AM · Jan 25, 2023

[Delta 21]

[Pajamajan]

bttt

[Not_Who_U_Think]

“We think the vaccines are an important tool for preventing severe illness and death ... But we have been concerned that our federal officials recklessly continue to push for multiple Covid shots”

The ole ‘limited hangout’, trying to straddle both sides.

“We demand that everybody get it, but if it turns out bad for you we’ve covered our butts by saying we have concerns.”