Everyone is tired of coping with the COVID-19 virus. If there is anything everyone can agree on, it is that. I know I’m tired of masks, social distancing, worrying about my unvaccinated grandchildren, and wondering if it’s “safe” to go out somewhere. After receiving my vaccination months ago I had hoped things would get better. It certainly should have, and seemed to, for a while.
Catherine Kohn, editor of the Moultrie News.
But resistance to the vaccines has been politicized. Misinformation has spread across the internet much like the virus spread across the world, infecting people with lies, unfounded fears and promoting the idea that “freedom” involves ignoring common sense measures to stop a pandemic. There is a simple, easy, and free method to make things better. The truth. Everyone who can needs to get vaccinated. Stop listening to disinformation. The COVID-19 vaccines are the major step to take to achieve our goal of a healthy populace and a healthy economy. But don’t simply take my word for it.
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten writes, “The COVID-19 vaccine is the most important tool we have to protect ourselves; our families; and the students, patients and communities we serve.”
The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control with the SC Department of Education emphasizes, “The best way to protect the health of our children and loved ones is to get vaccinated, especially children aged 12-19 who will be in the closest contact with one another.”
The SC Chamber of Commerce writes “Vaccines are critical to maintaining the progress we have already made in getting back to normal.”
Patrick Downes, CEO of East Cooper Medical Center asks residents, “If you are not yet vaccinated against COVID-19, we encourage you to strongly consider receiving the vaccine.”
The delta variant has changed the game. It is more contagious than the original virus and is now the cause of more than 80 percent of COVID-19 cases according to the CDC. Unvaccinated people are at the highest risk of getting it, and young people are being impacted more heavily than before. Health care systems are being overwhelmed in areas with low vaccination rates. Vaccinated people have a slight risk of breakthrough infection due to the delta variant, but are highly unlikely to become seriously ill.
All this comes down to one thing – the more vaccinated people we have, the safer we all are.
We now read news story after news story about unvaccinated people who have become seriously ill, who have lost family members, whose children have been infected, and those who have died regretting they didn’t listen to the advice of our medical professionals.
These warnings are not “fake news” or any of the other terms often used to dismiss the truth of what the virus is doing across our nation. This is real. The virus, and its variants, are dangerous and don’t care who you vote for and it doesn’t care if you want to be free of restrictions.
The virus is doing everything it can to survive – we need to do the same. Mask up and maintain distancing in enclosed environments. Arm yourself with the truth and help your family, friends, neighbors and fellow citizens. And above all — please vaccinate.
