It is being reported that coronavirus cases in the US hit a 7-month low last week. Worldwide the scenario is much different.
The same week that it was revealed but not widely reported that the American Federation of Teachers is an influential ‘thought partner’ of the Centers for Disease Control. This ‘commitment to partnership’ found the AFT successfully lobbying the CDC to delay school openings.
Are we basing our Covid response on science or political science?
Much of the response to this pandemic has been driven by politics, in my opinion. And, that is awful.
Some leaders are not letting this crisis go to waste. They are playing games as at least 3.3 million, and counting, have died worldwide. But what about the vaccines? The supplies are up….way up here in the US. We are swimming in vaccines. You can easily get one if you want one.
According to the CDC’s Covid Data Tracker, over 114 million Americans (34.4% of the population) are fully vaccinated. No word if the AFT helped with the math.
Vaccines are available but some are still hesitant of getting one. Let me help get you off the fence - one side or the other, I don’t care. It is your choice.
Larry Richert and I have welcomed many experts and officials on the KDKA Radio Morning Show since the pandemic began. I believe and trust some. Others? Meh. As I mentioned in previous editorials - tell me the truth and I’ll make the decision that is best for me.
The scientists and doctors that I trusted the most told me that the vaccines were based on two different platforms. The Pfizer & Moderna options use ‘mRNA’ technology. This ‘significant step forward’ in fighting bad things that ail us uses nanoparticles or genetic instructions to teach your cells how to produce a protein which generates antibodies that fight the yucky stuff.
I read that some smart guy won a Nobel prize in 1993 for figuring this technology out. These vaccines DO NOT contain any parts of a virus. They are synthetic.
Remember SARS and MERS? Yeah, well, what virologists learned from vaccine research for those two was the building block of these vaccines. That research, coupled with lots of cash, and the reduction of red tape are the reasons these vaccines appeared so quickly.
As far as ingredients: I dozed off while comparing the Pfizer vaccine’s with those of my ‘Equate’ Adults 50+ Complete Multivitamin. But, it seems ok.
The Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines use a different platform. They are more old-school and based on decades of research.
These two are less effective and use DNA from another common adenovirus to help your body fight the ‘spike’ protein that starts the infection in your body. The spike is that little ‘crown’ on the outer surface of the coronavirus cell.
Yeah, ‘corona’ means ‘crown’ - just like the logo on that empty bottle of ‘La Cerveza Mas Fina’ in your recycle bin that has the lime stuck in it.
Many people are already hesitant of the vaccine. They feel the science is flawed, the lockdowns were arbitrary & draconian. They feel that the vaccines have been rushed, and are now being pushed by descendants of snake oil salesman who simply shifted the family business to politics.
The response to this pandemic has offered these folks plenty of coincidences to back their fears. I don’t disagree with some of the arguments. But, I had to make a choice.
Some may say I caved to the agenda. I see it as a ‘one-off’ business decision.
Personally, I patiently waited my turn while reading, researching, and questioning the results of those who were injected in the months leading up to my decision.
I got my second dose last week.
I like to think I got the vaccine because I wanted to safely visit & vacation with my two elderly parents, immunocompromised siblings, and an infant nephew.
But, maybe I bought into the fear. Maybe I was bullied by co-workers, bosses, and officials. Maybe I got caught up in the hype. Maybe I just wanted to go see KISS in August at Starlake Amphitheater without being hassled.
But, most likely I was being rational. It was the path of least resistance. ‘I got your shot now shut up and leave me alone. And, shove this mask.’
The vaccine seems safe, well, at least it seems less harmful than some of the things I’ve eaten or put in my body over the years. My ‘post-jab’ body feels fine. No major parts have fallen off and I am relatively certain that a ‘chip’ was not injected in me.
However, I have a nagging feeling that the ‘Queen of Diamonds’ is trying to tell me something.
And, some words that Robert Frost once wrote keep rattling through my brain: ‘The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But, I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. Miles to go before I sleep.’
Ha! Just kidding.
Kevin Battle is not a Manchurian Candidate. He is Cohost of the KDKA Radio Morning Show with Larry Richert. The show airs 5a-9a on Pittsburgh’s 100.1FM & AM1020 KDKA and the Audacy app.