In the strange days we now live in one of the most vexing problems facing this nation involves a myriad of issues though one, in particular, paints a truer picture of the United States than any other - the debate involving being vaccinated against COVID-19. Before I launch in to what promises to be a challenging topic I wish to note for the record that I was vaccinated on Easter Sunday, 2021. I opted for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for reasons I’ll note below.
To begin with, there are 2 types of vaccine currently available to Americans over the age of 12. 1 type, the mRNA vaccines, are offered by two different FOR PROFIT companies. Let’s consider this type first. To begin with, and contrary to the vast amounts of misinformation floating around, mRNA vaccines ARE NEW. Indeed, the CDC states “mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine to protect against infectious diseases. “ CDC web page here While research into the use of mRNA vaccines has been ongoing for some time, actual mRNA vaccines are a thing of the 21st Century.
The other type of vaccine, also offered by a FOR PROFIT company, is an adenovirus vaccine or a viral vector vaccine. This type of vaccine has been in use since the 1970s. Many, if not most, of us have already had this type of vaccine. The concept is fairly straightforward. A weakened or dead virus is used to trigger an immune response in the human body. One thing most folks may not know however is that this vaccine ultimately assists the body in producing mRNA. That said, it seems fair to assume that even with its “newness” mRNA vaccines are merely trying to speed up the process by which the body develops its immune system.
When I chose to get the J & J vaccine it was because the process used to make it has been tried and been shown to work for 50 years. I’m also very suspicious of “new” medical developments particularly when the people behind them are in search of exactly one thing - PROFITS. To say I was not surprised when both mRNA vaccine makers began talking about the likely need for a “booster” would be a gross understatement.
Pharmaceutical companies LOVE mRNA vaccines for one reason - they can be developed significantly faster (and brought to market) than adenovirus based vaccines. To believe ANY for profit company is developing vaccines to serve the human race calls for, at a minimum, a visit to a psychological professional STAT! While taxpayers fund much of the research that goes into developing vaccines we don’t reap any financial benefits. Those are all but literally reserved for senior managers at pharmaceutical companies and large shareholders. Much of their profits also get churned into lobbying efforts and campaign contributions to help keep their bottom line strong in the future.
In light of the foregoing, I think there are plenty of reasons to be suspicious of the mRNA vaccines. Not because they can’t be developed and made safely, but because they are relatively new AND the fact the companies making them are focused on profits and not consumer health and safety. Given the long term use of adenovirus vaccines it is my belief that, they are typically going to be safer if only because the underlying process by which they’re made has been in place for decades. NO vaccine can ever be made to be 100% effective 100% of the time, the human immune system is far too individualized to ever make such a vaccine. That said, the decision to get vaccinated or not MUST be an informed one. Conspiracy theories about the Hell-bound Bill Gates are of no help to anyone. Virtually ALL of Bill’s financial success is traceable to his parents and the work of others. He is in no way someone to be emulated or held in high esteem. In the end however the mere fact he may promote something that fits his 2 class agenda doesn’t make that something inherently bad. Accordingly, we should visit sites where the scientific data can largely be trusted (keeping in mind that the use of statistics in any scientific field is akin to consulting a OUIJA board for important answers). I do NOT rely on statements made by elected officials or their stooges. Indeed, while I don’t pay much attention to political appointees at places like the CDC the reality is that the CDC as an organization provides good, peer-reviewed information on the COVID vaccines and how they were developed. The same is true of the NIH and other related sources.
In making my decision to get vaccinated I had to consider a number of factors. First, as someone with SLE (a form of Lupus) I had to confirm, as best I can, that any of the vaccines would be relatively safe for me. Once I did that I read up (via the CDC website) on the different vaccines and the processes used to make them. Based on my research I concluded that the J & J vaccine was probably my safest bet. I also considered, given my health issues, the likelihood that an infection would result in death or significant impairment. Also, I had to consider the fact I have others living in my house including 2 of my grandchildren who were not eligible for the vaccine. Considering the sheer number of individuals infected in the US I ultimately concluded that my best chance at not being infected or, at a minimum, to not suffer from serious symptoms or spread the disease was to be vaccinated.
I’d like to tell you that most folks who have decided to NOT be vaccinated went through this or a very similar process however I suspect that is not true. Even so, I have found a fair number of folks (including a lot of health care professionals) whose concerns about (particularly) the mRNA vaccines is based on a process similar to the one I undertook. I don’t know where you stand on this matter however I do hope that whatever decision you make is made based on reliable information and sound reasoning. It’s your life, and my guess is there are folks in your life who’d prefer you stick around. Choose WISELY!