Science Proves COVID Vaccine Saves Lives and Is Safe

More Americans have lost their lives to COVID-19 than during the Civil War. The number of lives lost in the nation’s most devastating war was estimated at 750,000. This number is far greater than the total lives lost in WWII, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq combined.

New scientific research created a vaccine that would stop the spread of the coronavirus. However, in typical fashion, ignorant and uninformed Americans, millions refuse to be vaccinated at no cost or risk. Scientific fact has been tossed aside by brainwashed men and women who would rather risk their lives and the lives of others than do the right thing for political reasons.

My reasons for not watching television “news” are many. The most important is simple: I don’t like being lied to. I found repeating the same stories over and over annoying. They accomplished nothing. This is the way I feel about anti-vaxxers. Stupid people do not deserve airtime. But broadcast television gave Trump more time in front of the cameras than any other president: why not do the same for his cult?

For a very short time, I worked with mentally and physically challenged young men. I have great empathy for those who have challenges. However, I find those who choose to be ignorant repugnant.

President Biden Mandates Vaccines

Courtesy of Cal OES (Flickr CC0)

President Biden mandated vaccines for federal workers. Yet, today more than half of the states have filed lawsuits in opposition to his efforts to save American lives. This is more hypocrisy from those who hate my America. When Trump fallaciously bragged about the development of the vaccine in 2020, there was unwavering support for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Yet, Biden released an order requiring businesses with 100 or more employees to be vaccinated by January 4 or be tested weekly. In nearly 50 percent of the states, Attorneys General are filing lawsuits claiming that this is a state’s rights issue.

Precedents: Mandatory inoculations were ordered for the first time in America on January 6, 1777, by General George Washington. He ordered every member of the Continental Army to receive a smallpox injection.

If states win their lawsuits, governors can keep unvaccinated Americans and foreign visitors from crossing state lines or doing business in their states. Professional and college sports teams could be required to be fully vaccinated to participate in games held in states where vaccines are mandatory. In theory, all interstate truck drivers would be required to offer proof of full vaccination. Air and train travel could be heavily restricted.

My suggestion is: “just take the damn vaccine. It has saved lives and is completely safe.” Americans must grow up and use their brains, not their emotions. Emotions make this a fragile nation.

By the end of last week, the CDC reported that at least 70 percent of the nation’s adults had been fully vaccinated, and 80 percent had received at least one shot. So let’s end this craziness. Stop whining about what you believe about your “rights.” If you endanger others, your First Amendment rights are null and void.

Op-Ed by James Turnage

Sources:

Wall Street Journal: States Sue to Stop Biden’s Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate; by Joseph Pisani
USA Today: Details of COVID-19 vaccine workplace rules are out. What if your employer won’t comply? By Charisse Jones
Library of Congress: George Washington and the First Mass Military Inoculation; by Amylynn Filsinger and Raymond Dwek
Pew Research: States have mandated vaccinations since long before COVID-19; by Drew DeSilver

Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Erin O’Toole’s Flickr Page  – Public Domain License
Inset Image Courtesy of Cal OES’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License