As a retired occupational therapist, I keep abreast of developments in the medical field. And that includes the Covid-19 vaccine issue. Vaccine mandates are a hot issue right now. Let’s look at why they might be a bad idea.
If you’ve had one of the Covid-19 vaccines, then you believe that it works. That’s why you got it. Right? Then why are you afraid of those who are unvaccinated? And why would you take boosters for a vaccine that works?
Following that line of thinking, it really shouldn’t matter to you if someone else is vaccinated or not! So why force others to decide between getting the vaccine and losing their jobs? It does not affect you at all.
PANDEMIC OF THE UNVACCINATED? Many people are freaking out about the Delta variant. It is true that it is more contagious but it is also LESS lethal than the original virus. That means that most people simply won’t get that sick.
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So where is the virus coming from? From your unvaccinated friends and neighbors? I seriously doubt that. Despite what some believe, there is absolutely no proof that unvaccinated people are super spreaders. But sick people can be.
Perhaps what we should consider, instead, is all the illegal immigrants coming over our southern border. The Department of Homeland Security recently reported (Oct. 1, 2021) that 20% of illegal immigrants coming in at the southern border are ill with Covid-19 when they enter. That’s an average of 7,000 sick people each day. Many are also sick with diseases like tuberculosis, common in the countries they are coming from, according to the CDC.
We are not vaccinating or retaining sick people coming into the U.S. at the Mexican border nor the thousands of new Afghan immigrants that our government just flew into our country. Since they are traveling freely throughout the states, perhaps they are spreading the virus.
WHY WOULD SOMEONE REFUSE THE VACCINE? So what if your friend or neighbor has chosen not to take the vaccine… Your friend may have some very good reasons for his decision. Here are some to consider:
- Natural immunity – Recent CDC data shows that 74% of those who tested positive for Covid-19 in a Massachusetts analysis had been fully vaccinated. In Israel, stronger and longer-lasting protection was found in the unvaccinated population—an argument for natural herd immunity. Natural antibodies that your body develops after illness provide lifetime protection. People who have recovered from Covid-19 simply do not need the shot.
- Risk of ADE – If you have had the virus and recovered, you run the risk of having your immune system go into overdrive when you get the shot. This is called antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). When this happens, the immune system over-reacts and causes you to be sicker than you would have been, if you contract the disease you are being vaccinated for.
- Allergies – Many people have allergies to ingredients in vaccines. Others have experienced reactions to other vaccines. Why should these people be forced to endanger themselves?
- Reactions and deaths following the Covid19 vaccines – This is not insignificant. According to the CDC’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), as of 9/28/21, we have seen 752,803 adverse reactions, 71,036 hospitalizations, and 15,937 deaths attributed to the Covid-19 vaccines. According to VAERS, there have been 70 deaths per day attributed to the Covid-19 vaccines — in the U.S. alone — for the month and a half.
- Religious reasons – While many will argue that Covid-19 vaccines do not contain aborted babies, they do contain cell lines. That does mean that aborted babies were used to develop the vaccines. Anyone who says otherwise is playing with words.
- Experimental – The CDC changed the definition of vaccine to accommodate the Covid-19 “vaccines.” The original definition said that vaccines contained a killed or infectious organism to “prevent disease.” After the Covid-19 vaccines were produced, the CDC changed the definition to say that vaccines “produce protection” from a specific disease. If you thought a vaccine will prevent illness, think again. In addition, no matter what they claim, the vaccines have just not been around long enough to know for sure that they are safe and effective. The average time for vaccine approval (according to FDA statistics) is 5-10 years. The Covid-19 vaccines were approved within months, and we have no idea what the long-term effects will be.
Health care should not be a political issue. Decisions about your health are personal and private. This is why the government created HIPPA, which protects your medical privacy. This is why you sign a document every time you see a doctor or go to a hospital.
Why would you let politicians decide what medicine you should take? And please, let’s not equate killing your unborn child through abortion, with choosing not to take a vaccine. Refusing to take a vaccine does not take someone else’s life!
To put this all in perspective, would you consult your local politician when you are deciding on whether to have your hip replaced? Of course not.
We need to stop depending on others, act like adults, and make our own informed decisions. In this country, that has always been a guaranteed right. Let’s not change that!
Linda Brinser
Melvin Village
.
