Americans are not getting seasonal vaccines ahead of the holidays

[PJMcK]

29. We got our vaccines a few weeks ago

We went to Walmart and got both flu and Covid shots within 25 minutes. Fast, easy and it puts our minds at rest. I had to travel overseas and the State Department recommended I get a Hepatitis-B vaccine (2 doses, one month apart) before going. I got that shot at the same time.

The vaccines are covered by my insurance so for us, they're essentially free. The pharmacists were great and the shots were painless... until the next day! Still, to know we've done the SCIENTIFICALLY CORRECT THING TO DO means we'll worry less about our health this season.

Here's what we learned from the Covid pandemic. 30% to 40% of Americans are ignorant and don't have the education to understand the science behind vaccines. Instead they believe conspiracy theories, crank medical ideas and listen to ignoramuses for advice. They are generally Trump supporters so that position explains a great deal about them. (A sign in one of my doctors' office reads, "Please don't confuse your Google search with my decades of study, research and experience." )

Frankly, I don't care about such people except to the extent that their poor health choices could affect the rest of us in two big ways. First, by not getting vaccinated, these people could carry viruses that will infect others. The point of mass vaccinations is to create a societal immunity to limit the transmission of disease. By opting out of this fundamental step of public health, those people are threatening the well-being of the rest of our country. That's not just ignorant and stupid, it's selfish.


Second, their health costs and care for when they get sick will unnecessarily burden the medical facilities in their areas. There won't be enough medical professionals, equipment and medications available. Want proof? Look what happened in '20-'21. Granted it was a mysterious new pathogen but the mass of people who refused care, preventative measures and social distancing were the ones who put the most strain the medical systems and they suffered the most casualties during the pandemic.

Stupid people don't learn from their experiences.