Take the vaccine, no time to debate
Your participation is that one step closer to end the pandemic
While the various authorities are busy putting in place all the safety measures, storage, logistics and distribution to ensure the administration of the long-awaited vaccine, I, like many others, cannot wait to get in line to receive my shot of what seems like the savior of lives and our future.
But amid the hurray, there are those who are adamant about not taking the vaccine for their own personal reasons; others sit on the fence with a wait-and-see approach, fearing possible long-term side effects.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, belief, and action, and we should all respect that .It is your right. But when our actions get in the way of others’ safety, then it becomes a matter for concern.
The mask wearing is just one of the many issues that sparked division and protests during this pandemic, as some refused to wear them, and others felt threatened and vulnerable by their actions.
Now the vaccine seems to be headed in a similar direction.
THEORIES SURROUNDING THE VACCINE
People have developed their own theories surrounding the vaccine. Some question it’s effectiveness and side effects, since the trial period was not comparable to previous vaccination trials.
For some , its a mistrust in the authorities, recalling the 1932–1972 U.S. Public Health and Tuskegee syphilis vaccine Research experiment where hundreds of poor black men would later die after being used as Guinea pigs without their knowledge and consent. The men were made to believe they were being vaccinated with a cure for syphilis.
The stories go on and on, some too ridiculous to mention.
But why can’t we just choose to see the collective efforts of the pharmaceutical companies, governments, science, scientists, and other experts in their respective fields who have collectively come together and work tirelessly to find a solution to save lives and put an end to this devastating pandemic?
It is my belief that the odds are greater if we try something, rather than just allowing this pandemic to further claim lives and destroy the world we live in.
The speed in developing this vaccine is proof of what can happen when we are united.
It will take a similar, collective participation from all of us to dismiss the misconceptions about being vaccinated and do our part in the interest of saving lives, so we all can again look towards the restoration of some form of normality and a better future for us and future generations.
Originally published at http://jamaica-gleaner.com on December 17, 2020.