Your Health May Be a Personal Choice
By Tom Herrin
Some things may be affected by the decisions we make, and some seem completely independent of anything we can do. With the virus that inflicted so much suffering during the past year, most people would like to think they have some say in determining their health outcomes. As researchers have worked tirelessly, we have waited for any kind of good news. At last, the word has come that several of the vaccine candidates are available. Once they have been offered to healthcare workers, then those with potential health issues, they will be made available to the general public. That is most of us. Just where we want to take our place in line, or not at all, will be a decision we will have to make. There is no reason to wait until the last minute as the time will arrive within the next few months.
Let Us Reflect on the Good
Vaccines have been around in some form for more than 200 years. The smallpox vaccine was possibly a stroke of luck, but it was relatively successful. Its use was able to help protect countless individuals and save lives. Since it was a virus, it could be theoretically eradicated by preventing its survival in a host. The last known case was more than 40 years ago. That is what I call an effective vaccine. In the middle of the twentieth century, another great accomplishment in vaccines was the Salk Vaccine, which was for polio. This saved countless numbers of people from being crippled by this dreaded illness. Other vaccines that have pretty good histories include the DPT and MMR.
Consider the Bad
Everything is not perfect, and vaccines are the same. Some people have had unfavorable reactions to the products, such as eggs, used in making the vaccines in the past. At times, those that used live viruses have caused cases of the illness. Some have caused people to have fever, muscles weakness, sleep issues, and many other things. For sure, much of this may relate to the condition of an individual's immune system, and many people simply choose not to risk taking anything foreign into their body.
There Is No Time Like the Present
Even though we know little about the vaccines, we must consider if taking one is worth the risk. It is a matter of weighing the odds. If each of us will study and consider the needs of our families, we will be able to make a decision that is in our own best interest. If we put off going through the decision-making process, we are more likely to make one that is too hasty.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in West Valley City, Utah.