Being immune compromised gives you a different perspective on health. I have a health condition that can be interrupted by a tiny cold, never mind a virus that caused a global pandemic
I’ve been trying really hard not to publicly rant my opinion on our current public health crisis but after this week I can’t help but express my frustrations.
First, stop politicizing vaccines. Vaccine mandates have existed in the US for over 100 years. While I do believe we should have the choice in what we do to our own bodies, our responsibility to protect one another comes above that when there is a GLOBAL pandemic. Quick reminder that the vaccine is not just for Americans, and has been given to billions across the world, so the argument that our government is using it as some sort of control is completely bogus.
Our ICUs are being over run by unvaccinated covid cases. They are not filled with vaccinated patients with side effects. For the people who say, “if I get covid I’ll be fine”, sure. You may make it through with mild symptoms. But even those with mild symptoms can have long lasting fatigue, chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, the list goes on and on. Is that really making it through just fine?
You may be wondering why I am I especially angry this week. My mom, who is fully vaccinated, is home with covid. Due to her autoimmune disease and compromised immune system, she is more likely to catch it and have a more severe illness. We are lucky that because of her vaccine she has been able to manage her symptoms at home, but she is still very sick. Extreme fatigue, horrible cough, low oxygen levels, the whole covid 19 package. Along with the anxiety of wondering how it will effect her long term. What does this have to do with others being vaccinated? Well if more of the population was vaccinated, the virus wouldn’t have the opportunity to mutate. We wouldn’t have high numbers that make it more likely that those who are immune compromised may catch it despite being very careful.
But it’s not just that. I’m also frustrated because my dad, who needs knee surgery, has to wait months due to a nursing shortage. Nurses are quitting or having to care for covid patients instead of taking care of patients with any other medical concern. Our nurses are fed up. Because after a year of watching people die, they now have to do it all over again, but this time, with patients who have chosen not to do everything they could to protect themselves. Many who still believe they made the right choice declining the vaccine as they lay on their death bed.
So when you chose not to get the vaccine because there’s “not enough research” (billions of people walking around vaccinated is apparently not proof enough), or because you “don’t want anyone else to have any say over what you do with your body” (guess that didn’t matter when you got your mmr or hepatitis vaccines so you could attend school)…When you’re sitting there on your high horse, sharing stories of people who had minor, non life threatening reactions to the vaccine, proud of your dangerous decision…remember that you are putting others at risk. You are putting yourself before others. And you are selfish.