Is There Really an Option to a Vaccine?
By Tom Herrin
As the world has struggled to deal with the pandemic, many individuals have suffered great losses among family and friends. Healthcare workers and medical facilities have been overwhelmed. Many have lost jobs and education has had considerable setbacks. We have all waited for some news of successful treatments or vaccines. The race to develop them has been unmatched. As vaccine candidates have become reality, it is obvious that many are being offered the opportunity to take them. Even though this begins with some special groups, they will be made available to the general public in the coming months. Each of us will then be faced with the decision of whether or not to take one. It is not something to be taken lightly.
Will You Be First in Line?
Vaccines in general have mixed histories. Some have been relatively successful and had a tremendous impact on civilization. Beginning the smallpox vaccine, progress has been made in several areas. Those that are used against a virus, such as smallpox, have the potential of wiping out the disease. This pretty much happened with smallpox. Those for measles, mumps, and rubella have also been overall good. These diseases have only resurfaced as people have not taken the vaccines. The vaccine for tetanus has saved countless lives in the last few wars while tetanus was largely responsible for many deaths in previous wars.
Will You Be Last in Line?
Many people have said they may consider taking a vaccine after everyone else has. Much of this is reasonable as some vaccines have had some bad results. People have suffered minor issues such as pain, fever, and mild illness. Some have much more serious problems. Many who had one of the older flu vaccines ended up with some form of that flu. This was when live viruses were used as part of the vaccine. Today's vaccines offer newer technology such as using codes or something else to trigger the body's responses.
Study and Decide Early
Putting off the decision until it is offered may not be the best plan. If we gather information ahead of time, we are much more likely to make a better decision. Weighing all of our options can help us to make a more educated decision as well. Avoiding much of the misinformation that is out there may help us to do what is best for our families. They are pretty important and deserve our full attention and effort as we decide.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Bluffton, S. C.