prompter: a person says vaccines aren't necessary because they themselves are not vaccinated yet they're healthy; what fallacy is this?

assistant: This is an example of the fallacy of anecdotal evidence. Just because one person is healthy despite not being vaccinated does not necessarily mean that vaccines are unnecessary for everyone. The scientific consensus is that vaccines are effective in preventing the spread of diseases and protecting public health.

prompter: How would I convince someone of the benefits of vaccines?

assistant: That would be an example of argument from anecdote, where a particular instance is taken to be representative of the whole. This is usually an event experienced personally, or by a friend or family member, or a story which receives heavy media attention, and thus has a strong influence over the reasoning of the person in question.

We can see the utility of vaccines when we look at the aggregate statistics, and people who do not receive them will be at greater danger, but this does not mean that every unvaccinated individual will become unhealthy.

prompter: Without doing anything dangerous, how can I convince my mother to get her flu shot in the autumn?

assistant: Educate her: Provide her with reliable information about the flu and the benefits of getting vaccinated. Emphasize that getting a flu shot can reduce the risk of getting sick and prevent spreading the virus to others, especially those who are more vulnerable.

Address her concerns: If she has any concerns or hesitations about the shot, listen to them and address them with evidence-based information. For example, if she's worried about side effects, let her know that these are usually mild and short-lived.

Lead by example: If you have already received your flu shot, share your positive experience with her and encourage her to follow your example.

Offer support: Accompany her to the doctor's appointment or help her schedule it. Let her know you're there for her and that getting a flu shot is an important step towards taking care of her health.

Encourage community spirit: Emphasize the importance of community protection and how getting vaccinated not only protects her but also those around her.

assistant: You may wish to explain the risks associated with not getting the flu vaccination, such as a higher chance of catching the flu, which can lead to further complications, such as pneumonia. Additionally, you can explain the benefits of getting the flu shot, such as reducing the risk of serious illness from the flu and its complications. 

You can also talk to your mother about the people who would benefit from her getting the flu shot, such as elderly or immunocompromised family members or friends. Additionally, you can remind her of any past experiences with the flu, and how getting the flu shot can help prevent similar occurrences in the future. 

Finally, you can emphasize the importance of getting the flu shot as a form of preventative care, and that it can help minimize the risk of her getting the flu, and potentially spreading it to others.

assistant: I would recommend letting her know the statistics for how it can help her. Also another way to understand it can be finding another anecdote. The anecdote should be real and appeal to emotion but not to the level that would make them not believe that it won't happen to them. Then tell them that you love them and you don't want anything to happen to them.

assistant: This is an example of Appeal to Ignorance, which is a logical fallacy in which one assumes that because something is not proven false, it is therefore proven true. This is incorrect because absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Just because someone is personally healthy does not prove that vaccines are unnecessary, as there are many other factors that contribute to a person's health.

prompter: How do mRNA vaccines work?

assistant: Vaccines work by inducing an immune response to a protein on the surface of a pathogen, such as a virus or a tumor.
mRNA vaccines are small molecules that contain the blueprint for the production of these surface proteins.
The mRNA is used to make the target protein, which triggers an immune response and the production of antibodies.
When the immune system is exposed to the virus, antibody production is faster than in a naive immune system.
Because mRNA is rapidly degraded, it is quickly cleared from the body. 
In addition, the human body is not able to insert mRNA into its genome, so the DNA is not affected by the vaccination.

assistant: The mRNA vaccines work by introducing a piece of mRNA that corresponds to a viral protein, usually a small piece of a protein found on the virus's outer membrane. Individuals who get an mRNA vaccine are exposed to this piece of a protein instead to the virus itself.