Every day one sees articles or hears about unvaccinated men, women and children who are tragically and needlessly dying from COVID-19. Some of the stories even involve people who have spoken out against COVID vaccines. According to data by Johns Hopkins University, the sad part is that COVID-19 has now killed over 750,000 Americans and infected about 46.5 million since last January. However, those numbers fail to paint a complete picture, since testing scarcity and delays likely left many COVID-19 cases and deaths undiagnosed, especially during the outbreak’s early stages. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that as many as 1 in 3 people in the U.S. have been infected, more than three times the official count.
Recently, we’ve seen articles about well-known athletes, entertainment celebrities, politicians, etc., etc. who have spoken out against vaccines for a whole number of irrational reasons. Unfortunately, they have ignored the expert advice of scientists and physicians in favour of becoming “Facebook doctors” and relying instead of the associated reams of misinformation about COVID vaccines. In general, ‘fear’ is a powerful emotion. Then there are those who have simply ‘politicized’ the anti-vaccine movement for their own reasons, often stressing libertarian values over the health concerns of the community. Simply put, being vaccinated and following certain protective measures will help prevent the spread of COVID and the emergence of new more dangerous variants.
The fact is that where more and more people have been vaccinated, coronavirus case levels have remained stable in recent weeks, and hospitalizations and deaths have generally continued to decline in some parts of the country, notably across the South and Northeast. Still, we are looking at around 70,000 new infections reported daily in the U.S. Infection levels continue to climb steadily in such states as California, Colorado and New Mexico. Despite the optimism of some people, this pandemic is far from over. Fortunately, as of this November, seventy percent of American adults are now fully vaccinated, and COVID vaccines for children have been or will most likely be approved by the CDC. We are slowly on a road to potential recovery and so-called ‘normalcy’.
‘Vaccine hesitancy’ is now confronting the recent introduction of mandatory vaccine requirements in the U.S. Interestingly enough, nearing President Biden’s coronavirus vaccine deadline, thousands of federal workers are apparently seeking religious exemptions to avoid the shots. Moreover, the federal government will have to balance the right to religious freedom against the goal of creating safe workplaces for 2.1 million civilian employees. However, it’s bizarre how one is determined to qualify for an exemption base on one’s religious beliefs. Apparently, employees do not need to provide proof of a religious conviction to justify a claim, but must only attest that are “sincerely held.” Some managers are even asking whether employees, despite their religious beliefs, received vaccines for other illnesses such as the flu, measles, shingles, tetanus or invasive pneumococcal disease. Managers will soon assume the thorny role of having to decide whether someone is sincere or requesting such an exemption for political reasons. In a directive issued in January, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said the employee’s objections do not have to stem from an organized religion and can be beliefs that are new, uncommon or “seem illogical or unreasonable to others.” Talk about muddying the waters!
A viewpoint or position is deemed irrational if it’s based on evidence judged not to be logical or reasonable. I have yet to find any arguments that would convince me that opposing COVID vaccinations can be validated, even those supposedly based on one’s religious beliefs. Most of those in opposition are basing their beliefs on information they’ve obtained in support of their position. This is referred to by psychologists as a clear sign of ‘confirmation bias’. They simply ignore information and data which clearly supports the urgent need for as many people as possible in a community to be immunized against this dreadful disease.
FROLITICKS 
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