[CardinalSagehen]

Another way to look at the situation is that we are moving from pandemic to endemic. At this point, I am speculating that we are all going to be exposed to Delta or future variants sooner or later. I don’t think it’s going to be possible for an individual on the Stanford campus (or any campus) to avoid exposure to Delta entirely through December. Their vaccination and/or natural defenses may help them avoid being ill or testing positive, but they will not completely avoid the virus. We see this happening in countries like the UK and Israel with very high, Santa Clara County-like vaccination rates.  In Santa Clara County, cases are occurring among the vaccinated at a rate roughly 1/4 as much as among the unvaccinated, which is still not 0. (Fortunately, as we all know, the vaccine remains extremely effective against severe cases.)

My point is that being entirely ruthless about the vaccine would be the best thing Stanford Football can do.  Moving games, distancing unvaccinated players in team meetings, and even masking are illusory solutions.  One thing I noted in Shaw’s discussion of the team’s vaccination status is that unvaccinated staff and players must continue to be tested daily.  This alone will result in more positives, whether symptomatic, false, or true.  And positives will result in quarantines for roommates and teammates.  (See Davis Mills @Oregon, 2020.)  In addition to personal and public safety, this is another enormous reason for a team member to be vaccinated, if they like winning games.  

Note that I’m not arguing against daily testing - just reviewing the facts as presented.  (Maybe all players are still being tested daily?)

[CardinalSagehen]

Another way to look at the situation is that we are moving from pandemic to endemic. At this point, I am speculating that we are all going to be exposed to Delta or future variants sooner or later. I don’t think it’s going to be possible for an individual on the Stanford campus (or any campus) to avoid exposure to Delta entirely through December. Their vaccination and/or natural defenses may help them avoid being ill or testing positive, but they will not completely avoid the virus. We see this happening in countries like the UK and Israel with very high, Santa Clara County-like vaccination rates.  In Santa Clara County, cases are occurring among the vaccinated at a rate roughly 1/4 as much as among the unvaccinated, which is still not 0. (Fortunately, as we all know, the vaccine remains extremely effective against severe cases.)

My point is that being entirely ruthless about the vaccine would be the best thing Stanford Football can do.  Moving games, distancing unvaccinated players in team meetings, and even masking are illusory solutions.  One thing I noted in Shaw’s discussion of the team’s vaccination status is that unvaccinated staff and players must continue to be tested daily.  This alone will result in more positives, whether symptomatic, false, or true.  And positives will result in quarantines for roommates and teammates.  (See Davis Mills @Oregon, 2020.)  In addition to personal and public safety, this is another enormous reason for a team member to be vaccinated, if they like winning games.  

Note that I’m not arguing against daily testing - just reviewing the facts as presented.  (Maybe all players are still being tested daily?)