To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate

The covid 19 vaccine is out. Many people are excited about getting it. Others are unsure. Some have decided an emphatic "no!" So much controversy surrounds this "warp speed" treatment.

One of the reasons that many people want the vaccine is because they are tired of the the masking, social distancing, being holed up and not able to see relatives and friends. They believe that getting the vaccine will cause a return to normal.

Others have heard conflicting reports about safety. They want to wait to see if it is safe and if it works. They know that the recommendation is still for masking even though the vaccine promises a return to "normal."

Before you make a decision about this vaccine it is important to think it through. So much information is available, but what is factual and what is not? Remember there is no "one size fits all" on any medical procedure and that will be true for this one also! What may work for your neighbor may not work for you. Thus thinking this through may make more sense and be more logical than filling your head with a lot of confusing information.

First of all consider that treatments do exist for covid 19. Safe treatments which have worked very well for most people. Only .4% of covid cases are serious. That is not even one per cent. So if you prefer treatment over vaccine you are in quite a safe place. As covid continues to be an issue herd immunity will take over. Most people will be exposed. Some will have a light case, some none at all, and a few will get sick. Most will recover.

Secondly, the manufacturers do not know if this vaccine will protect from covid; neither do they know if it will prevent transmission. The most they can hope for is a less severe case of covid. A second dose is necessary and now there is some talk about getting a third dose or getting it regularly.

If you have had covid, the indications are good that long term immunity exists for most people. Thus the vaccine would not be indicated. The National Institute of Health states that "covid 19 vaccines designed to elicit neutralizing antiboides may sensitize vaccine recipients to more severe disease than if they were not vaccinated." That is something to consider.

These new vaccines have not had long term safety testing, or long term testing for effectiveness for potential side effects such as autoimmune responses. The initial studies were done on select groups of healthy people. They were not done on people who were elderly, had autoimmune issues, allergies, or other morbidities. The general population getting the vaccine now are part of the early testing and all injuries or deaths need to be reported so that analysis can occur. The vaccine cannot be required while it is under Emergency Use Authorization. It has not been FDA approved.

If you need information to research on this vaccine plenty is available. You will find it with biases in both directions, as well as excellent material coming from experts who are not agenda driven. Please consider your action plan carefully. You can always get the vaccine. You can never "un-get" it. The manufacturer bears no risk for this product. Thus, as the sole risk taker, be sure you are convinced in your own mind!