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Dr Joseph Mercola says: "real-world data show it [the Delta variant] is actually weaker and far less dangerous, even though it does spread more easily". However, the CDC is less sure about this and says "Some data suggest the Delta variant might cause more severe illness than previous strains in unvaccinated persons. In two different studies from Canada and Scotland, patients infected with the Delta variant were more likely to be hospitalized than patients infected with Alpha or the original virus strains" (see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/delta-variant.html). In this case (see above Fig 2) I tend to lean slightly towards Dr Mercola's view, but take issue with 'it does not appear to be much weaker' and can indeed stlll be a killer in a few percent of the cases, as well as leading to hospitalization, or long-term disability.
Dr Mercola points out that "People who are vaccinated still get infected, it only seems particularly good at blunting the disease, and what that tells you therefore is that these vaccines in the vast majority of people are applying a nonlethal pressure, narrowly focused on one protein, and the vaccine rollout is occurring over a long period of time. That’s the recipe for driving variants.” That would appear to be the case, if we do not reach herd immunity. Thus the vaccines will need to be enhanced to compete with the new variants. However, rather than pushing for increasing vaccination, the only remedy Dr. Mercola appears to encourage is the natural infection which as mentioned above can lead to hospitalization, death or long-term disability. In addition. as has been pointed out both polio and smallpox were overcome by vaccines and not by natural immunity.
Dr Mercola also says: "If we are to depend on vaccine-induced immunity, as public health officials are urging us to do, we’ll end up on a never-ending booster treadmill. Boosters will absolutely be necessary, as the shot offers such narrow protection against a single protein of the virus. Already, data around the world show vaccine-induced protection is waning rapidly in the face of new variants, and Moderna has publicly stated that the need for additional boosters is expected." Again his alternative of natural immunity would appear to say we need to not vaccinate but let nature take it toll. In fact, the Spanish Flu of 1918-1919 did not have a vaccine and thus 'The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, the deadliest in history, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims, including some 675,000 Americans'" see https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/1918-flu-pandemic.
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