A letter in the March 10 edition of this newspaper questioned the wisdom of people choosing to be vaccinated for coronavirus or COVID-19. Though anyone is free to choose not to be vaccinated, I think this is the wrong decision for most people.
David Robinette said that the survivability rate if one acquires the coronavirus is “99+%,” but if this is true, that does not tell the whole story. As of this writing, the death toll in America is more than 540,000
people. News sources note that this toll exceeds all U.S. deaths associated with ALL the wars in the 20th century – WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the more recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While virtually everyone was touched by the deaths in these multi-year and tragic conflicts, the current coronavirus pandemic has claimed all these lives in only ONE year.
In addition, if one is in the over 65 age group, one’s chances of dying from this virus is much greater (1,100 times greater, according to the CDC) than someone in the 5 to 17 age group. If one is male, a person of color, or happens to have any extra health complications, such as obesity or diabetes, chances of survival are even less.
I admit that I was suspicious when our former president seemed to want to rush through a vaccine and get it approved, mainly, to increase his chances of re-election, I suppose. I am not a fan of the big pharmaceutical companies either. Yet, extensive trials took place using tens of thousands of
volunteers, and adverse reactions were very few while the effectiveness of the vaccines in preventing morbidity was very impressive.
On the other hand, if any deaths have occurred from taking any of the currently approved vaccines, I will be interested in knowing the numbers and circumstances of these deaths. Mr. Robinette did not provide any evidence of deaths that can be attributed to the vaccines.
My support for being vaccinated is bolstered by the fact that independent advisory boards of physicians approved the emergency use of these vaccines – not politicians who were running for office. I trust medical professionals like Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Frances Collins too. These doctors have devoted
their whole lives to improving the health of people in our country.
As for Dr. Simone Gold, quoted as a medical authority by Mr. Robinette, she was among those arrested for storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6. To me, this sounds like an example of poor judgment on the part of a medical professional. Likewise, the American Frontline Doctors (AFD) that Gold founded and that was mentioned by Mr. Robinette is listed by several sites as a “right wing political organization” supported by Tea Party Patriots. These same folks reject lockdowns, social distancing, and wearing of protective masks in public places. In short, the AFD is not quite equivalent to the American Medical Association.
I don’t know Mr. Robinette’s age, but because I’m already past 65 and my own family has experienced a death that might have been prevented by a vaccine, I’ll take my chances with any of the current vaccines. While the long-term effects of taking these vaccines is not known, the short-term results of not
having it are known – a much greater chance of dying if one is over the age of 65 or has other health problems.
Of course, tens of thousands of younger folks have lost their lived too, gasping for their last breath in a hospital isolation ward, not a good way to die.
John Reynolds,
Critz
