Gambling on a virus

Well, we made the list again. Arkansas holds the position of the eighth-lowest number of vaccinations in the country. The statistics really amaze me. In the U.S., we are eighth from the bottom. The South is the worst in general, with the North and Northeast having the highest numbers of vaccinated.

Yet we are No .1 in teen pregnancies and unwed teen pregnancies, seventh in highest poverty ratings, and only 84% holding a high school diploma. As teachers in the ’80s, ’90s, etc., we used to whisper about our scores, always one of the lowest in the country, No. 49. To match it we had teacher salaries, No. 49. Thank God for Mississippi! However, my sister (Margaret Besancon) said Mississippi’s covid cases rate is lower than Arkansas.

One comment in a recent paper, however, from a nurse in Massachusetts, was that she had waited till now to get her shot because she didn’t have time. Her employer told her she could be held responsible had she become ill with covid and allowed it to spread to her patients. I think she was being totally unfair to her patients and her co-workers.

The U.S. fought the “Spanish” flu in 1918 (brought home by our World War I soldiers from Europe) by wearing masks. They didn’t have a vaccine, and death rates were astounding then. We have adequate masks — now available at the door of stores, etc., and ample vaccines. We have no excuses.

I think Americans love to gamble. Right now they are gambling that they won’t get covid. The only way to get them vaccinated is to hold a lottery. Or have a race between cities, counties, or states. If we did, I am sure our numbers would improve.

And then, hopefully, we could say again, “Thank God for Mississippi.” DORA BRADLEY North Little Rock