Vaccination plea

Open letter to anti-vaxxers

Well, sometimes I don’t say much of anything but there are times when I really get wound up about something and I guess last night laying in bed, a few of my nasty thoughts came to the front of why I could not go to sleep.

At 86-plus years of age, I have seen many things in my life. I have gone through many “episodes” and have had oodles of opinions about life. One thing I cannot understand is why an individual would think they know so much more than educated doctors, scientists etc.

Yes, right now I am talking about the anti-vaxxers. OK, get your dander up and disagree with me. That is your right—to disagree. What isn’t your right is to put others in danger of this dreadful virus.

From the time you were born you have been vaccinated to keep smallpox, measles, the flu, pneumonia and polio away. Many vaccines have been put out to the public—too numerous to remember and I have had them all.

The government has put the information out there for you to know how to protect yourself, your family and your neighbours.

Recently I heard from family members that this horrific virus had crossed the line and hit many of our family, including a five-year-old, a three-year-old and a nine-month-old baby. Fortunately, the last I heard, the three-year-old is the only one in the hospital and is doing better. But he’s still in hospital away from his family.

I heard about another member of our family who has members of their family that have it—six members, all living in different states.

Members of my immediate family have had it too, children included. Yes, most of these people had at least two shots (of vaccine) so luckily their cases were mild.

We must control this virus now. I have my boosters and take all precautions as I want to live a few more years. I want to see my great-grandchildren grow into their teens and get a few more hugs from them.

We get our groceries delivered but I feel heartbroken thinking of those who have to work and have to wear a mask all day. The firefighters, nurses, doctors, teachers, RCMP offciers and on and on. These people are literally putting their lives in danger every single day.

OK, so you anti-vaxxers are determined not to get a vaccination. Fine. Stay home. Stay in your own house, don’t go to work, don’t go anywhere. Stay home and out of society to protect the rest of us and the little child next door or your extended family. Respect the rest of us who want to get back out there and enjoy our family and what is left of our lives.

No one knows when our last day will be, but it would be nice to not have this worry for the rest of our days.

I love you all despite your thoughts that you know more than the rest of us, but please maybe give my words a bit of a thought and go get yourself (vaccinated) for the rest of us around you.

You just don’t know who you are brushing up against next to you at the store or wherever you are. That person may not survive a bout of Covid, nor may you if you get it from someone else. Please consider my plea.

Yes, it is a choice you make but I am pleading with you to make the right choice to protect yourself, your family, your neighbour and your place in society.

Marge McArthur, Penticton