Cameron G., I would be interested to hear some specifics as to what your aquaintences find so problematical about the safety or efficacy of the vaccines. Simply saying they aren’t safe doesn’t really inspire much confidence in their position. All three of the current front runners in the vaccine race have been developed by teams of scientists from different countries (the UK, Germany and France, in addition to US companies). That means that more than just the American FDA and CDC are overseeing the process, which takes the current American system out of the equation. The drug companies are in a damned if you do and damned if you don’t situation. When they moved quickly to try and head off an exploding virus outbreak, people insist it isn’t safe or has not been “properly” vetted. If they took the traditional time (up to 4 years) to develop the vaccine, people would scream that they were dragging their feet. You can’t have it both ways.
Plus, you seem to imply that asymtomatic people who have the virus are, therefore, not contagious. Statistically, it is true that over half the cases show no outward symptoms. But, it is also true that they are actually contagious. In fact, doctors now believe that about 60% of new cases are spread by those who have the virus, but show no symptoms. That is part of the pernicious nature of this virus that allows it to spread so easily. For those of you who feel strongly that you will not take the vaccine, that is your prerogative. But, if you don’t, I suggest you resolve instead to do the other things we currently have (masks, sanitation & social distancing) that we know work. Totally ignoring this problem will not make it go away.