As I write this article, our community has had 2028 positive Covid-19 cases (not positive tests) and 90 deaths. In the U.S., we have had 29. 4 million cases and have endured 539,000 deaths, and worldwide there have been 121 million cases and 2.7 million deaths. These numbers continue to grow daily, both globally and locally. I reject any argument that attempts to diminish the loss of human life with claims that most are elderly or had pre-existing conditions. These are human beings with family and friends that mourn them deeply. To be marginalized for any reason is wrong, and to believe that the virus can't infect you or a loved one, regardless of age, is foolish.
We
can now fight this virus with more than just social distancing, mask-wearing,
and keeping our hands clean and away from our faces. Science has
delivered to us vaccines that have proven to be effective in saving lives. We
are well into delivering these vaccines into the arms of as many people as the
current inventory allows. Public health officials estimate that
vaccines will be available to all from the age of 16 and older by mid-year if
we continue in our present course. The challenge then turns to
convince a mistrusting portion of the public to vaccinate.
This
past Sunday, I was watching a news conference where a public health official
was asked the following question, "What should be done now to convince
the American public to receive this vaccine?" He answered, "We
need a concerted effort by local officials in communities across the country to
work to get as many people as possible vaccinated because they enjoy more
personal connections with their citizens than state and federal officials."
As I let this statement sink in, I began to think to myself that this
"ask" is much bigger and more personal than the "ask" to
advocate for all to "mask-up, wash your hands throughout the day, and
keep a safe, social distance." Personally, it makes me uncomfortable
to advocate for others to get vaccinated. I don't have the
education, knowledge, or scientific background to be qualified enough (for me)
to advocate for other people to inject the vaccine into their
bodies. But, I am comfortable sharing with you why I chose to get
vaccinated (I still have one to go in a week) and why I thought my wife (now
vaccinated) and children (when eligible) should get it done too.
First,
to be clear, my thinking is devoid of any political agenda
whatsoever. I have said from the first time I publicly commented on
this pandemic, and every time since, political viewpoints and blind loyalties
have absolutely no place of value in the fight against a world pandemic, a
public health crisis like we have not experienced in the past 100
years. None. And with the latest polling showing that a
disproportionate and significant percentage of people from one political party
opting not to get the vaccine over people of the other political party is
equally mind-numbing and mind-boggling. Former President Donald
Trump and his wife were vaccinated in January and have since publicly
encouraged others to vaccinate. President Biden and his wife were
vaccinated and joined in the effort to convince the public to
follow. If the leaders of opposing political parties decided on
vaccination, I don't understand why political affiliation is still a factor
now. Politics and Pandemic? Far from "Perfect
Together."
I
also have done a deep dive into the history of the science behind the vaccine
to understand better how the vaccine was created and how it works. I
was encouraged to discover that the actual "race" to create this
vaccine started more than 15 years ago with leading scientists from world-class
pharmaceutical companies and research institutes working to fight various novel
coronaviruses leading up to the one we fight now. In fact, the
vaccines we are delivering today were almost wholly developed before the first
case of the virus was discovered in the U.S early last year. With
science so far along already in the vaccine research and development, and add
the full force of our federal government, the teamwork between experienced and
committed public health officials and top scientists, and add $9,000,000,000
used for human trials over the following nine months, I have more confidence in
the vaccine then if I just looked from afar and marveled at the time-frame
between March 2020 and December 2020 without knowing more. This,
coupled with how the vaccine works within the body (too long for me to describe
here, but the Mayo Clinic website offers excellent information, Get the facts about COVID-19 vaccines - Mayo
Clinic), convinced me to trust
the science behind the vaccine.
We all can acknowledge the incredible
discoveries and inventions the human race has made throughout history -- in
engineering, science, and technology. This vaccine lines up well
with other tremendous feats of humankind. So, I believe in the
vaccine's science, and I think it necessary to stop the spread of this deadly
virus. If the current polling holds and a significant number
of people choose not to vaccinate, establishing immunity will be delayed for
years, and the virus and all the destruction it causes will continue.
My
decision to be vaccinated was not only to protect me. As
with wearing a mask and social distancing, it was done (and is still being done)
to protect others as well and do my part (taking personal responsibility for the public
good) to stop the spread. I want us to re-open as quickly as
possible, but I also want it to be done safely--valuing every life, regardless
of age-- equally. The best way that I felt I could help now was to
be vaccinated.