If scientists finally discovered a vaccine for cancer, I wonder if it would do much good. In our highly polarized society, how many people would take it?
I say this after Britain became the first country on Wednesday to grant approval for a COVID-19 vaccine. At some point, and who knows how long it might take, America will do the same and we will eventually have access to a coronavirus vaccine that researchers are touting as 90% to 95% effective in preventing severe cases.
Developing a vaccine is one thing. Getting people to take it is another. That's no easy task in this day of online conspiracy theories. I'm not paranoid, but everyone seems out to get me.
I was anxious to get a grasp of how local folks feel about taking the COVID vaccine, so I did what most people would do. I put the question on Facebook.
Trying to be as neutral as possible, I posted this question on the Southern Standard Facebook page:
Q: "When approved in America, do you plan to take the COVID vaccine?"
The question received 93 comments. A number of people indicated they are undecided and several others just posted a general comment where it was difficult for me to determine if the person would take the vaccine or not.
Of the 76 people who made a definite reply, 44 of them said they would not take the vaccine. That's 57.9% who said no.
There were 32 people who said they would take the COVID vaccine, or 42.1%.
My stance is no one should be required to take the COVID vaccine. It should be a matter of choice.
For me that personal choice is an absolute yes because I have faith in modern medicine.
Today, for some reason, the willingness to take a vaccine has become a thing that liberals do. I'm not exactly sure how this came to be.
Vaccines have done wonderful things to improve our lives, virtually eliminating such diseases as polio, diphtheria, measles, mumps and tetanus.
People are obviously free to make their own choices. My main suggestion is when making that decision, folks should probably pay more attention to healthcare professionals than to that guy in his basement who is posting on the internet as Don'tMakeMeALabRat.
