I would hate to be “the collateral damage” person or family.
It’s a risk I’m not willing to take.

I’ve seen warning’s against Omicron parties here in Mo.

No, I don’t ”think the US health officials decided to allow an “Omicron party” as a heath strategy?” Well, maybe Dr Rand Paul, but he’s not a US health official.
Your statement ”There will be some unfortunate collateral damage for the greater good” smacks a bit of the Texas Lt Governor’s stance on it two years ago.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/03/dan-patrick-coronavirus-grandparents

It is proven and widely reported that one infection of covid-19 does not prevent future infections. Purposefully infecting oneself is stupid in the extreme.

That’s a pretty ridiculous theory, I must say. I think they may feel helpless and overwhelmed and frustrated by the stupidity of many but I don’t think they are deliberately throwing the health of millions under the bus. I was texting my DIL yesterday who’s a nurse in a cardiac recovery room and she is very anxious as she sees her colleagues falling ill that she’ll become ill and bring it home to her family. And think of all the people with other illnesses who are not getting the medical they need and are also “collateral damage’.

Whoever is spouting such nonsense should be ignored.

I am pretty sure that someone at the CDC got bribed by some corpo.

I say “covid party” tongue and cheek. Nowhere did I say to actually hold a party, I said it’s like a party.

I don’t mean literally go out and try to get sick. I mean they know the public is taking all sorts of risks and they maybe are sitting back saying, ok, at least the Omicron is not as deadly and immunity rates will go up in the population.

I completely agree the CDC and NIAID must feel helpless and frustrated. They have to deal with the realities of what the population is willing to do and the overall health of the nation.

Yes, it sounds like Sweden and Republican idiots (not that they were all idiots, there were plenty who reinforced masks and caution) two years ago who were saying natural herd immunity is the way to go. I do mean idiots. It matters when you get sick! Hopefully, you never get sick.

I’ve never supported purposely getting sick and neither have any of our leading health scientists in the US government as far as I know. I don’t even want to risk getting infected and I’m boosted, and I prefer everyone still be cautious. Today we have about 80% of the US population with some immunity probably (70% at least one dose). Two years ago it was nothing close to that and herd immunity naturally was nearly impossible for many many years if ever.

Absolutely, the CDC believes people have some immunity after being infected. Just like you have immunity after getting the vaccine. It may not be very durable over time or may not prevent getting sick again altogether. How is that very different than the shot? Supposedly, the shot is better, but prior infection certainly creates antibodies in most people.

As far as Rand Paul, he is a total schmuck, destructive, dangerous, self serving, and a liar. I saw him at the hearings a few days ago coming after Fauci again and it makes me sick to my stomach.

I don’t know about bribes, I like to think not regarding the CDC and NIAID, my parents worked at NIH and the scientists were amazing. FDA does have some good ol’ boy network in it, and the laws regarding patents are frustrating and obviously about money. I do think there is corporate pressure on the CDC though, I just don’t accept there are outright bribes happening there.

I do believe people probably aren’t very contagious after 4 days into the illness similar to other colds and flu. I don’t think the CDC completely caved without scientific reasoning, but I also think they are accepting covid will continue to spread and the US never controlled the virus well.

Well, I can’t remember who said it, but some health official said straight up “you will get COVID”. Everyone is going to get it at some point. And I am starting to believe that is true.

Intentionally contracting Covid is a dumb idea and I’ve not heard of anyone advocating such a thing. Even if we all eventually contract covid we still won’t gain immunity. Vaccines or natural immunity doesn’t really make you immune. The concept of ‘Herd Immunity’ doesn’t exist. All we can do is to try and lessen the severity of the disease. Therapeutics are the treatments that will get us out of this mess. Early treatment is key but if we don’t have them the panic will continue. The last I heard Biden is on tract to produce a million doses a month but if we are seeing a million cases a day, that is of little help.Maybe we should stop attacking each other and concentrate on treating those that need it.

I don’t think it’s a “strategy” in the sense of actually wanting more infections, but having slightly reduced protocols when a somewhat less deadly variant is spiking, and when most sane people are vaccinated and/or taking precautions, just makes sense.

Having reduced cases, if possible, is still important and desirable, because there have been so many mutations, effects are still serious, and as @Jaxk just mentioned, encouraging more cases would never work out well.

Again, I did not say the health officials actually want people to get sick. Not once have I heard that from any health professional, nor do I think they want that to happen.

Someone just posted the below information in my Facebook covid group. I really like Gottlieb for his both his opinions and factual information. The quote is what a member wrote in the group:

And in other news, Scott Gottlieb told an interviewer from CNBC that right now 1% of the U.S. is catching covid every day. He also said that infectivity last days 10. So, he concludes that 10% of the U.S. is infectious currently! That means there is a 10% chance that the average person on the street has infectious covid. Obvious point: stay away from others until this passes in a few weeks, ... unless you foolishly want to get Omicron because it is “mild,” or you are feeling very lucky.

Not a good idea, average of 760,000 new case each day. Resources are in short supply including staff at hospitals. Maybe multiple by two or three with “parties” !

Well, they’re happening. People who believe natural immunity is preferable to vaccine-mediated immunity are fodder for such gatherings. I know someone whose whole family (including months-old baby) got COVID after claiming to go to a COVID party.

One of many problems with this approach is that (a) they can still contract a different strain and (b) may likely contribute to the burden in the healthcare system.

Another problem is how the CDC/government are approaching statistics about people with disabilities and co-morbidities. They (we) are more likely to die, especially unvaccinated. And the people who go to such parties will infect those with whom they live and come into contact. It is sure to increase deaths.

That is a preposterous idea. That might be a consideration of former leader or a person who does not believe in science.

Obviously, I did not write my original post well. Totally misunderstood by so many.