Tag Archives: COVID Vaccines

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The Vaccine Debate

I’m very much pro-vaccine. If my doctor told me to get a vaccine, I’m going to trust the person I’ve trusted for 20 years with my health over information on Google or YouTube. When I was pregnant, with my kids, my biggest question was to always make sure that I was up-to-date with vaccinations because I wanted my unborn child to be safe. I might not always be the best when it comes to getting a flu shot, only because it always seemed like an inconvenience to go through. But I try to remember it for myself. I never forget it for my kids, which is the most important thing.

Now enter in the COVID vaccine, which I’ve already written about. It’s not new science behind the shot, mRNA approaches to vaccines have been studied for decades. People are hesitant and the sole reason for that is half-assed research on the internet. Fine, don’t get it. That’s absolutely your choice. I’m all about people making their own decisions, as dumb as I may find them. When I had my newborns, no one was allowed around my kids without being up-to-date on their basic shots. You weren’t going to hold my newborn and give him whooping cough. Nope. If people don’t want to get vaccinated, that’s 100% their choice and right not to.

What I’m not going to say is that because they made this choice, that they should be denied medical care. If they don’t realize the hypocrisy in getting experimental treatment to not die from COVID but are afraid of the “experimental” vaccine, then there’s not point in even reasoning with them. People don’t care about facts or logic. It’s easier to be told what to think than actually trust science that they don’t agree with. Their beliefs hold precedence over anything else. It doesn’t matter what the reality is. But when you start limiting medical care because of one reason, what’s to stop someone from limiting medical care for another reason such as obesity? You can’t claim that you’re for medical care for all but then start talking about who you should limit medical care for. That is just as hypocritical as taking non-FDA approved “experimental” treatments when you won’t take a shot. Both sides are equally wrong and equally bat-shit crazy, in my humble opinion. Science isn’t political; people make science political.

Though, I admit I do have a lack of compassion for people over their choice. I was reading this sad story about how someone was talking about how their wife nearly died from COVID. It was heartbreaking. Then I read that they were both against the vaccine because it’s experimental. Then I was like “But so is the medication that saved her life?” Then I didn’t feel bad. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes I always say. I’m very much a believer in actions having consequences. If you made a choice and you nearly died from it, then I honestly don’t really feel bad. I’m a horrible human being like that.

Would I feel comfortable having someone over my house that wasn’t vaccinated? Absolutely not. If they got sick from COVID and even died from it, I don’t want that on my conscience. I don’t want my unvaccinated nearly 9 year old to be put at any more risk than he has to be. I might even only have a family-only birthday party for him because at least I know that they are all vaccinated. You can make your own choice about not getting vaccinated. That’s your right. But just as I respect that right, it should also be respected that I’m going to be extremely cautious around you. It goes both ways. I’m not a sheeple and if you think that I am, I’m going to say you’re also one because you’re just following what you saw on the internet. At least I’m following the advice of medical professionals that I trust.

Mask or don’t mask, your call. Vaccinate or not vaccinate, your call. I’m biased and think basing your opinions on a vaccine based on not educating yourself properly or listening to people who are actually vaccinated telling you that it’s bad for you, it’s something that doesn’t impresses me. I don’t think you’re brave for that choice. I think you made a choice and that’s that. Do I judge people who spread misinformation? Absolutely. I’ve heard very valid reasons for people not vaccinating their kids and themselves and I respect the educated decision. I don’t respect the decision of “Fox News/Newsmax/QAnon Politicians told me not to, so I won’t” or “I saw on the internet…” because that’s insane to me. Ignorance is a choice. It’s one that should be accepted because if someone is at that point, they aren’t going to listen to any arguments to convince them otherwise. I’ll still be friends with you and support your decision, even if I roll my eyes at it.

That’s what we’re supposed to do. Because we can’t fight for liberties of making own own health decisions while telling other people what their health decisions should be. Do I personally believe in having an abortion? Nope. I couldn’t do it because of my own beliefs. Does that mean I think no one else can because I don’t personally believe in it? Nope. Their body, their choice. But I just ask that you remember the “my body, my choice” excuse that you’re using now about this vaccine should apply to other people for making their own decisions about their body.

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When Research Isn’t Enough

I’m a bit of a geek. I like to read about everything. It’s a thing. I get it from my dad. I end up down rabbit holes sometimes and find out I’ve wasted 3 hours of my life because one thing that I researched led me to about 20 different things. I find it helpful to know as much as possible about things because it makes me feel good that I can chime in and show off. Plus, I just like to know things. Knowing things is probably one of the best defenses against the lies that the media and the “media” want to push on you, knowing that most people are only going to research other similarly biased websites. Education is so important.

I understand why people are hesitant about the technology behind the COVID vaccines. They believe that this is rushed science and seem to only read information that backs that. The thing is, even with just a quick Google search you can find studies that go back a bit further than just last year/this year. For instance, this study that was dated back in 2018. I’m not very well-versed in science, but the basis is that they were using new technology for mRNA vaccines that show it could potentially be very effective against viruses. But the research data goes further back than that. This study from 2008 shows the potential of mRNA and how it can be used for vaccines in the future (we’re now in 2021). Another study from 2006 discusses how these can be potentially safer. The point is: this isn’t some new technology scientists pulled out of their butts when COVID hit. This has been extensively studied for a very long time. This was used for vaccines that were tested out for Zika, rabies, and a few other viruses and COVID just happened to be the first thing that they could really apply this technology to successfully.

Another reason why people are hesitant about the shots is because they track the VAERS data. While I’m sure this can be a useful tool, I’m not entirely sure I trust a tool that can be updated by anyone without any real validation of that data. I could say that the vaccine transformed my DNA and turned me into a man with dog ears and a tail and they would have to list that. Then, the alt-right would say “The vaccine turns people Trans” and it would be a whole thing. But, I don’t trust data that hasn’t been verified. I can’t say I even looked at VAERS data just because I don’t want to know if the COVID vaccine will make me stub my toe more.

The fact is that you are responsible for making your own medical decisions. I pay my doctor to keep me alive, so I typically listen to her. If she tells me it’s safe, she’s not someone who likes to mess around and will tell you exactly what she thinks. She thinks I should get it, I get it. I did my research from various science sites that are trusted. I don’t find anything worrisome and in fact, I am excited to see that this technology could be used for cancer vaccines. Can you imagine that?

I get my second Moderna shot on Saturday. As someone who has a very questionable immune system (at best), even an “untested and microchipped” vaccine is better than what would happen to me if I ended up with COVID. I managed to walk away from this pandemic with my sanity intact (primarily because I am a loner anyways), without sacrificing too much despite a loss of income, and managed to not get sick with COVID, the flu, and only had 1 cold. I’ve even decided to follow the Asian traditions of mask wearing during the cold/flu season in the future because I just enjoyed only being sick because of my own body’s failings, not from an illness. I’ve decided to trust the science and I appreciate other’s for finding science that disproves my research and following that. I don’t judge. If they ask my opinion, I give it. If not, I can be happy with my vaccinated self and move on.

People make the beds that they chose to lay on and as long as they can sleep soundly at night, there’s not much else you can do. You can’t hate people because they don’t believe what you do. We’re not supposed to agree on things. Science may be divided by politics, but people don’t have to be.