I am proud that I am vaccinated against Covid-19, and many other diseases such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus, etc. Having suffered with measles, mumps and chicken pox as a child. I am glad that my sons skipped those rites of passage to adulthood. I believe that vaccination was one of the top advances in medicine in the twentieth century.
Proud to be vaccinated, and sorry so many have refused it.
Since I grew up when polio was common, I remember getting the first polio vaccine shots. Later, it was the sugar cube vaccination. The local Boy Scout troop, which I was a member, helped at the vaccination clinic. Unfortunately, I know some of my peers that got polio, with life long consequences. Fortunately, I did not know any person who died of polio.
I wish that some of the anti-vaccination people could walk through a polio ward of the 1950s or a village that was struck by small pox in the 1800s. Maybe that would change their minds, but I am afraid too many of them think “My mind’s made up, don’t confuse me with the facts.”. The anti-vaccination people are going to prevent Covid-19 herd immunity from occurring in America.
The biggest surprise to me is Covid-19 public health measurers became a political issue. I never would have thought that I live in a country where so many people do not believe that science can solve many problems. Many politicians have used their belief to gain power, even though people have died from their actions. I wonder if these people use GPS in their cars, have radios, believe the world is flat, etc.
One close friend of mine has a 93 year old mother refuses to get the Covid-19 vaccine. While she is an African American, and America has not always done right by that minority, I don’t think that it applies in this case. My friend is a chemist and his brother is a physician, and they have not been able to convince her to get vaccinated. However, the physician’s daughter just had a baby girl. Her requirement to hold or see the baby is to be vaccinated. Time will tell if this happens.
My Covid-19 vaccination has allowed me to meet friends, eat in restaurants and attend gatherings in relative safety. It’s freedom. I hope that the anti-vaccination crowd realizes this fact. However, maybe the only way to get the anti-vaccination people vaccinated is to restrict their normal society privileges.
Joe LowryI was a child that moved so often, (8 elementary/middle schools) and finally went to to high school in Arroyo Grande California. I ended up at San Jose State University graduating in Chemistry, minor in Biology. Got married, and had two sons. Unfortunately, my wife passed 35 years later. I worked initially in the pharmaceutical industry. After being down-sized, I ended up in the aerospace field, working on satellites. I still live in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I have not personally encountered anyone who is anti-vax, so it’s interesting to hear about the people you know. I hope the 93-year-old woman gets vaccinated so she can see her great-granddaughter. I’m curious if you published this story anonymously because you thought people here would disapprove of your views. I’m pretty confident that everyone on this site is pro-vaccination like you are.
It got published anonymously by accident. I agree that it would be a surprise if any of the writers on this site are anti-vax. I will follow up with my friend with the 93 year-old mother to see if she gets the vaccine.
You are right on! Like the anti-maskers, the concept of vaccine hesitancy and the stance of the anti-vaxxers is almost inconceivable to me, altho of course I hear their ill-founded reasons. We have two religious Israeli cousins who are resisting the shots despite pleas from their patents and siblings.
And you’ve reminded me of a family friend who contracted polio during the 1950s., and suffered for years physically and emotionally. Toward the end of his life he experienced a resurgence of more severe symptoms as happened to many polio victims.
Welcome to Retro! I see you’ve chosen to write anonymously but perhaps you’ll change your mind, would love to know you and read more of your stories!
Hi. The anonymous publication was an error. I cannot understand the anti-van people. I like to play the odds, and chance of a vaccine causing harm is less than being struck by lightning (although I don’t stand outside in a lightning storm, I want the odds on my side).
Good Joe, glad it’s you!
Totally agree!
Thanks for reading my thoughts.
Well said. It is surprising to me as well that we live in a country where fear (and the politics of fear and lies) has taken over science and truth. I have a friend; originally from Ireland, whose mother contracted measles in Jerusalem while pregnant with him. He was born deaf. This is tragic on a large scale.
I fear the rise of Evangelicals has also played a part in the anti-vax movement as well. Rumormongering (that fetal cells are part of the vaccine for the Evangelicals; for younger people, that the shot will make you sterile…the internet is full of such nonsense) puts us all at risk.
Yes it is amazing that so many of the fringes of religions have influenced so many people. I understand believing in God (or Gods), but God give us the ability to make our life better. As for me, I want to use my God-given abilities to improve my life and other lives.