Friends, I'm torn. On one hand, I'm vaccinated. I didn't hesitate to get vaccinated, because it seems to me that a lot of the widespread myths about the coronavirus vaccines are nonsense. "Gene therapy"... Yeah, right! A vaccine just trains your body to be ready to fight off an infection. It doesn't alter your DNA. It alters your immune system. Sometimes people have reactions to vaccines, it's true. In almost all cases, those reactions are mild or insignificant. In a handful, they're bad. Overall, vaccines are one of the main reasons why we live, or tend to live, to ripe old ages nowadays, instead of dying at 30, like our ancestors. Personally, I'm a-okay with getting vaccinated. And I did get vaccinated. I'm still here...
On the other hand, this is a free country, right? We keep saying that, so it must be true, or at least semi-true. Millions of my fellow Americans don't feel comfortable getting vaccinated for COVID-19. The development and testing of these vaccines was abbreviated. Many people don't believe that the disease poses much risk to them. Others resent the social and even legal pressure that's being placed on people to get the vaccine. Fair enough. To each his own. Yes, everyone who refuses to get vaccinated makes it harder for society to reach herd immunity, but, if the vaccine works and doesn't tend to kill people, over time those doubts ought to recede, and more and more people will "get the jab". So be it.
Here's a poll that reveals who it is that's refusing to undergo vaccination. It's an interesting list. We're told that Republicans are the problem. Well, Republicans are among the most vaccine-hesitant, but interestingly more women than men are too. Aren't women supposed to be smarter than men? They're certainly more mask-compliant and COVID-wary, in general. Maybe women are just good at being scared of things, including vaccines? Could be. Note that single women, who are supposed to be among the wokest among us, are also among the least likely to get vaccinated. Curious. Note also that the poor are particularly reluctant. There are some key Democratic constituencies on this list! To make a long story short, lots of people don't want the jab, and for lots of reasons. I guess that's the equivalent of saying that human beings are a complicated bunch, and, personally, I wouldn't have it any other way.
I hope, at the end of the day, that most people decide to get the vaccine, and that COVID goes belly up, but let's get there the right way, shall we? Let's give Americans a choice.
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/tipp-poll-coronavirus-vaccines-hesitancy/2021/05/10/id/1020770/
Brother Comrade Dr. Waddy,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on getting vaccinated. If you go Woke on us, we will know for sure that the vaccine has altered your brain.
MY QUESTION:
As of now, my biggest worry is another Sarin gas (chemical) attack by a domestic religious terrorist group like the group that attacked the Tokyo subway and related systems in 1995. How can I protect myself against this? Will atropine work?
Okay Nick, all morbid humor aside, a lot of people were and are hesitant to get vaccinated for COVID because of the contradictory bullshit that politicians and medical people were yapping about, PLUS possible side effects. Also, the words HERD IMMUNITY applies to herds of cattle getting vaccinated. Are people like cattle? I guess the power broker elite looks at things that way, don't they?
So with that said, I have to get back to building the fallout shelter in my backyard, located directly under my barbecue. You never know when "they" will drop the bomb.
Let's see, the above comments cover Chemical and Nuclear attacks. So how about biological or germ warfare? Perish the thought! Just not possible.
I feel much better now. Also much more secure, knowing that Little Debbie snack cakes will protect me against any kind of NBC attacks.
Dr. Nick
ReplyDeleteAll of my sarcasm and satire aside, no offense on your decision to get vaccinated. I suspect (although I hope not) that before all that long, people will be "forced" into getting vaccinated. This is already true with overseas travel, and could well be a domestic requirement soon. Who knows? Motels might require proof of vaccination. Who knows?
What bothers me about this entire pandemic is the "warp speed" that came up with a vaccine in an almost mystical amount of time. Before, during, and after the arrival of said vaccine, one "authority" would say one thing and then another would come up with something that could be considered contradictory and confusing.
Then various public places will say, wear the mask, and the place next door will say, no problem, don't worry about, and on and on and on. Lots of heavy bullshit going on here, don't you think.
Those who are holding of on getting vaccinated might be told to get vaccinated or become a public health risk. Who knows? Is it possible in our emerging dictatorial society that people who refuse to become vaccinated will face prison time?
Ray, all your worries are plausible, although most of them aren't likely, especially in Kansas. Those fierce prevailing winds would protect you from many chemical and biological weapons, and your heartland banality protects you from most villains' notice. Count yourselves lucky!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't count out the potential for nuclear war, though. Never underestimate human stupidity!
Will vaccination become mandatory? For all intents and purposes, it might. SUNY (for which I teach) is now requiring all on-campus students to get vaccinated. Probably all schoolkids will be next. Many employers will require it. My guess is it'll become harder and harder to avoid. I'm not thrilled about that, but you could see it coming. Pretty much all concerns about individual rights have been put on the backburner. Government has proliferated as though we were in a world war, and it won't be easy to return to the status quo ante.