WE ARE OPEN

This is a message to those of you who have not yet received your COVID 19 vaccine and are still on the fence contemplating whether to take it. Let us have a conversation regarding this matter. Although I am arguing in favor of taking the vaccine this is not a one-sided dialogue and I want to hear your point of view, so let us reason together. 

I enter this conversation with a background of 30 years’ experience working as a clinical laboratory personnel. I understand how viruses affect us and the way our systems work to combat the effects of infections. I am also acutely aware of the advantage we gain from being vaccinated against the various strains which are out there ready and waiting to rage war against our bodies and our immune system is the only weapon we have to combat this enemy.  It would be fool hardy to not stock up on our arsenal as we go to war against these invaders and the only confirmed way to protect ourselves is to build our immunity to the viruses through vaccination and through the barrier of a face masks. 

The science behind vaccination creation is not new. If we look at the numerous viruses and plagues that have attacked and ravaged our society over the decades, we will realize that had it not been for vaccinations, many of them would still be  around today. Has anyone seen smallpox lately? 

Some of you might say the vaccination for COVID19 is too new and was too hurriedly developed but let us consider the annual flu vaccine. Every year a new vaccine must be developed and tested to combat emerging strains of the influenza virus. Coronavirus is also not new. It has been around for years. Kindly read the fine print on the back of any Lysol container. You will find it listed among the germs the spray kills and it has been there before this new pandemic. What we are now experiencing is a new and more deadly strain, hence, the “novel coronavirus” for which a new vaccination had to be developed. Please note that there are many people here today because their ancestors were willing to take a chance on a new vaccine.

I hear the argument that no one knows the side effects of taking the vaccine. Much of the food and drugs that we take daily might at some point have some adverse effects. Listen to the fast talking at the end of those pharmaceutical commercials. In addition, your doctor reviews risks and benefits of your prescription medication with you whenever a new condition is identified that needs to be addressed with starting a new medication. You must consider that the benefits more often than not they out way the risks. In my opinion, with more than 500,000 deaths in the United States and many more across the globe, it is too great a risk to convince me that I should not take a chance on the vaccine.

There is also the notion that we do not want to be pushed to the front of the line. With over 100 million doses already administered in the United States and over 400 million doses administer globally the front of the line has already been taken. At this point, anyone who is not yet vaccinated is nowhere near to the front of any line. I do not discredit the history of decades of abuse meted out to the minority and black communities over decades by the medical fraternity, the Tuskegee airmen case in point, we are fearful of a replay. Surely, I am not oblivious to the fact that there are still those who would seek to harm, but this is a totally different scenario.  Understand that there are people trying to skip the line to get their shots. Government officials and medical personnel have gone to the front in order to demonstrate that they are willing to take their chances.

Scientists have cautioned that it will take over 80% of the population being immunized before we attain herd immunity, which is that point where enough people are inoculated whether by contracting the virus and recovered or by getting vaccinated so that the virus cannot spread any further. If everyone decides that they want to be in the minority of those not vaccinated, then we would all be doomed since it would be impossible to reach herd immunity.

My entire household has been vaccinated. We will continue to wear our masks and follow the CDC guidelines as we wait for the day when we get the green light that all is well to let our guards down. You might not be on my side of this conversation and I might just be a small voice in the sea of misinformation and conspiracy theories circulation in the cyberworld, but if I can convince just one person to take the plunge by giving my take on this crucial matter, then it would be well worth it. 

Please roll up your sleeve when it is your turn and let us get back to partying. 

I really, really miss you all!

Patsy Thompson 

Vice President

West Indian Social Club of Kansas City

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