Garth Rattray | Potentially deadly vaccine excuses (Part 2)

There was a time that, whenever the Government told us to get vaccinated, everybody got vaccinated; although, as with all vaccines, there was always the extremely remote possibility that there could be an adverse reaction. Getting vaccinated is for the good of Jamaica.

Cautious and fearful individuals are producing long lists of excuses. Some are listed below, along with my reactions:

• Vaccinated people are spreading the virus. Vaccinated people might still catch the virus and spread it, but unvaccinated people are spreading it more, killing people more, getting sick more and dying from the virus.

• Vaccinated people fill up the hospitals and are dying. That’s a big, dirty lie.

• I’m waiting on a different vaccine. Several people have died waiting on a different vaccine, don’t become one of them.

• Some doctors and nurses not taking it, so something must be wrong with it. Doctors and nurses also make personal choices, sometimes to their detriment.

• My relatives say that I must not take it. Your relatives cannot save you if you catch COVID-19 and become very sick; do not allow them to put you in jeopardy.

• I plead the blood of Christ against the virus, I don’t need any vaccine. God will protect me. God gives you the wherewithal to protect yourself.

• Suppn haffi kill you one day. Yes, but why chose to die from something as monstrous as COVID-19?

• Me nah go nowhere. I don’t need any vaccine. You don’t have to go anywhere to get COVID-19; it can easily find you.

• All who tek di vaccine ah go dead in a few years. Absolute rubbish. But all who get COVID-19 might die in a few days or weeks.

• I’m going to build up my immune system to fight the virus. If it were that simple, we would not be in serious trouble from COVID-19.

• I have pressure and sugar, I cannot take the vaccine. Those with pressure and sugar need the vaccine the most.

• I’m pregnant, so I cannot take the vaccine. Not true; this vaccine is safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• I’m too old to take the vaccine. The older you are, the more you need the protection.

• I’m too weak to take the vaccine. The weaker you are, the more you need the protection.

• I had COVID already, I don’t need the vaccine. Natural/acquired immunity does not seem to last very long. Better to be safe than sorry. Taking the vaccine even if you had COVID-19 already will not harm you.

• Maybe I had COVID and didn’t know, so I can’t take the vaccine. I’ll just wear my mask, wash my hands and distance from people; I’ll be fine. This virus is extremely sneaky; many of us got it doing everything possible to avoid it. Get vaccinated and get protected.

• Some doctors say we must check our antibody levels before taking the vaccine. That means that vaccines are not safe. A very few doctors believe that their natural antibodies (from getting COVID-19) will protect them for a while. Antibody testing is extremely controversial, it is not readily available, and requires repeated testing. The vaccine is safe, free and protective.

• Vaccines magnetise you. That is an absolute lie.

• I’m not going to join any long line to take any vaccine. There are very long lines and very few beds at the emergency rooms. You choose.

• We no born fi live forever, suppn affi kill us. Dying is one thing, but suffocating for days or weeks before dying would not be my choice.

• Vaccines are the mark of the beast. There is no greater beast than COVID-19.

Sometimes I’m successful in explaining away the misconceptions and lies, and other times I’m left fretting for those I cannot convince. May God help us all.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.