By Marcel Gemme
Here we go. The news stories are coming in each day about how the long-awaited vaccine is dangerous and killing people. We didn’t have enough to be concerned about already.
The headlines began recently with different variations of this “shocking” news, linking 23 deaths in Norway among seniors to the fact that they’d recently received the new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. It is one of the two vaccines recently approved and released to protect the most vulnerable populations from the virus.
Older adults in nursing homes and others deemed to be in the highest-risk category were the first populations targeted to receive the vaccine in Norway. But because these populations are so frail and in poor health, these deaths need to be examined more closely before anyone jumps to conclusions, particularly media members.
But distrust is at an all-time high in America, given the historical events we’ve all witnessed and experienced over the last year. Internationally, we’ve added nothing but confusion to what could have otherwise been a worldwide collaborative effort to prevent this pandemic. Even the WHO is denouncing the for-profit practices that American pharmaceutical companies seem unable to restrain themselves from, even in desperate times like these. Rich countries are getting the medicine while developing countries aren’t.
So, it’s no surprise to see media outlets devouring stories that scare people about the vaccine killing them. But the facts are what we often miss in the narrative. And Norwegian officials were quick to silence the chatter by pointing out logic.
Since the most vulnerable populations were given the vaccine first, it wouldn’t be unusual for some of them to have died naturally anyway within the “post-vaccine” period. In fact, it was quickly discovered that all twenty-three of the deaths occurred within nursing homes among frail, elderly patients.
Next, they did some research and found that each week in Norway, 400 people die in nursing homes. These people didn’t receive the vaccine, so now we have facts. Other facts that are even more encouraging include that more than 20,000 people have received the vaccine in Norway. Or, that all of the twenty-three people that died were in their 80’s and 90’s.
This is a classic case of sensationalism. And it is an example of how we’ve gotten to this point. We all know that fear sells. But the better question, is should we be selling it? The harmless air that we give to what should be considered disinformation allows it. And as long as it’s allowed, it will perpetuate.
One can avoid getting caught up in the mess of false data by looking at the message. Is it one of hope or despair? Good people are doing good things every day, fighting this virus, and winning. The fact that we even have a vaccine so quickly is a marvel of modern technology and medicine.
Why aren’t we celebrating? Not everything is risk versus risk. There’s hope if we’re willing to look for it.
(Marcel Gemme has dedicated his life to helping others find help. He focuses his attention on helping individuals find long-term Senior Care, he does this through his journalism, community outreach, and his website, ECDOL.org. Excellent Care, Decency, and Optimal Living are what he aims to bring to individuals looking for care options for themselves or their aging loved ones.)