When the SARs CoV2 virus made its appearance and started to reak havoc on mankind, many asked why don’t we have a vaccine for this. Now that we have the vaccine, many are hesitant to receive it.
Let’s pause for a second. COVID-19, the disease , is real. It’s caused by the SARs CoV-2 virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2). Many have fallen victim to this deadly disease. At this point we all know someone who lost their battle to it. As of February 19th, 2021 we have 491,455 deaths out of the 27,737,875 cases in the US alone. If you think the percentage is low, speak to a family member who lost a loved one or two. If you pass these statistics as insignificant, then you have not seen a patient intubated and on life support. Check out a video or two on you tube and let me know what you think.
In navigating the truth through the conspiracy theories and political battles, one must keep an open mind in order to make an informed decision. Vaccines are not bad. Vaccines save lives. Vaccines have been around for a very long time and the concept of inoculation dates back to 100 AD. Allergic reactions have been around every longer. Anything that goes in your body (food, medication or vaccine) can cause a reaction. That’s just a fact of life. The good news is that many will not experience a reaction. Allergic reactions are adverse reactions. They range from mild to severe and there is no telling who will experience what. So to refuse a life saving vaccine because someone else had an adverse reaction to it is accepting the disease. If you accept the disease, you will inevitably accept its consequences. Unfortunately, the consequences don’t end with you. You see diseases that were once eradicated can return if we decrease or stop immunizations. So what can happen if you skip vaccination for polio? You can get the disease and risk to become paralyzed. If you skip varicella? You get chickenpox. Sure it’s temporarily uncomfortable, but shingles during your older years is not a temporary condition. Nor a comfortable one. Why would anyone choose that? The bottom line is vaccines are a major factor in disease management.
Let’s take a look at the prevention. Masks, hand sanitizer, social distancing, and immunity boosting diet is only good if stringently followed by everyone. I personally thought that this behavior alone would stop the SARs CoV-2 from spreading. What I didn’t realize is that not everyone was vigilant. You see, human beings are social creatures. We need to be with other people. We need to talk to other people. We don’t follow directions very well. We don’t like to be inconvenienced. Unfortunately, this behavior comes with a price. A price which society as a whole needs to strategically combat.
Our best defense against disease at this point in time is vaccine and treatment. Both have progressed significantly well. The vaccines currently on the market are Pfizer and Moderna. Johnson & Johnson will be out very soon. Treatment in the form of monoclonal antibodies made its depute at the end of 2020. The use of convalescent plasma and monoclonal antibodies early in the disease state has become a life saver. We see infusion centers becoming increasingly available for the administration of Bamlanivimab. With more treatments being studied, I believe we will see this disease to an end soon. The major part of the fight is the vaccines. So far 59,585,043 doses have been administered (almost 60 million!!). Schedule your vaccination as soon as you become eligible. Don’t be discouraged with the scheduling process. Click here to learn more about the vaccines. Until it comes to a complete end we need to do our part in staying safe and stopping the spread. Click here to learn about the proper use of face masks. Don’t forget to wash your hands often.
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