To Vaccine or not to Vaccine
We have a pandemic in this country that is killing 3,000 people a day, over 300,000 people since it started. It’s out of control, in part because of sheer stupidity. I am sorry if that offends anyone, but it’s true. People were told to stay home for Thanksgiving, not to travel. I saw the pictures of the airports. There were many people ignoring the advice, creating a “super spreader” event that will kill Christmas for a lot of people. Literally.
“Wear a mask.” Such a simple request. But no, it infringes on people’s rights. Well, your not wearing a mask infringes on my damned right to life. Quite honestly, if you choose to get the virus, I don’t really care. It’s your right. But it becomes everyone’s concern when you spread it to others or end up in the hospital putting the people in charge of caring for you at risk. Your right to be stupid does not trump my right to life. (Pardon the pun.)
At last we have a vaccine, probably two soon. The relief is palpable, for some of us. Dr. Fauci said he’d be first in line. President Obama said he’d get his on TV to reassure people. An end to the nightmare is in sight. But no. It’s too soon, some people say. The sooner the better, say I. It hasn’t been tested enough, they say. I am a volunteer in the Moderna test. I was brave enough to be some of the first to get it, to see what side effects there might be. I’ve been swabbed repeatedly, shot, had blood drawn (vials of it) and now I have to spit every other day for weeks, so they can see what enzymes I’ve got. And I’m one of thousands who have taken the chance (and there’s not much) to make sure the vaccine is safe.
But the conspiracy theory people know how to frighten people. It might sterilize your daughters. (You care about your sons?) It might turn us all into frogs, too, but it’s unlikely. I haven’t croaked yet. Don’t trust science. What do they know? A lot more than most of us. As my favorite Rand Paul said, “We won’t let ourselves be pushed around by a bunch of experts.” Let that statement roll around in your head for a minute. Experts=bad. Fear mongers and conspiracy theorists=good? Who’s dealing with a full deck?
The flu shot isn’t always for the right flu that year. True. I still get one every year, because if I do get the flu, I get a milder case; some protection is better than none. What if the vaccine isn’t for the right mutation? I figure, again, some protection is better than none. If it makes a difference in how sick I get, I’ll take it. Dying alone unconscious on a ventilator has never been on my list of ways I want to go. Call me silly.
Look, you don’t want to wear a mask or get the vaccine, it’s entirely your right. You charge around with assault weapons, and I’m supposed to accept it. I accept it until it threatens me. We all have the right to do what we want, as long as it doesn’t endanger others. I trusted science enough to be a test subject. Leave your assault weapons home, wear a mask, and get the vaccine as soon as it’s available to you. Stop putting other people’s lives in danger. Let Grandma get run over by a reindeer, not die of complications of a virus that can be controlled, if you can control yourself.
