Refusing to get vaccinated is ‘irresponsible and dangerous’

Q Thanks for addressing the problem of unvaccinated police and unvaccinated people. I agree with you and, despite the loud minority, so do most people. You will, of course, catch all kinds of hell, but you already know that.

— Scott Miller, San Jose

A

Thanks, and surprisingly not. Most feedback has been in support of my comments that not getting vaccinated is irresponsible and dangerous.

Q

I want to thank you for your comments about those San Jose police officers who are refusing to get COVID-19 vaccinations. You are so right in saying it is time to call it what it is, selfish and risky.

— Terri Lehan, San Jose

Q

I really appreciated when you called out police who don’t get vaccinated. I appreciate your boldness. I also anticipate considerable backlash, and encourage you to hold strong.

— Clark Quinn, Walnut Creek

A

More than 460 law enforcement officers have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, making it by far the most com- mon cause of dutyrelated deaths in 2020 and 2021. More than four times as many officers have died from COVID-19 as from gunfire in the same period.

Q

Roadshow says, “It’s selfish not to get vaccinated, unless there’s a medical reason preventing it.” With many police, airline pilots, major sports prima donnas and even some medical workers refusing to get vaccinated, it’s so nice to finally see someone in the media not pussyfooting on the issue and telling it like it is.

Not getting vaccinated is not just selfish, it’s irresponsible and anti-social.

— Peter Ross, San Jose

A

Unvaccinated people who die of COVID-19 might have been saved had they gotten free vaccinations. They may also be infecting others. In some highly impacted parts of the country, unvaccinated people who become seriously ill with COVID-19 are consuming limited medical resources of beds and staff so that people with other serious conditions must be turned away.

Q

I’ve read you for years. However publishing the dribble about unvaxxed being a danger to vaxxed is the end of my reading you. The vax doesn’t work and depriving people of their rights by intimidation and loss of jobs is criminal.

— Bernie Olson

A

Sorry you’ll stop reading. I’m curious about where you’re getting your vaccine information, what those sources are basing their information on, and what their motivations are for playing down vaccinations. Follow the science. You might be surprised to find that some anti-vax sources are vaccinated themselves. And some social media algorithms drive people toward divisiveness to keep users engaged.

On Monday, more on this debate that should not be a debate.