Cheating ourselves out of privileges

Recently the John Hopkins University reported that California had the lowest infection rate per 100,000 people for COVID-19 of all the states. We now have 70% of eligible adults vaccinated with at least one dose in California.

But the E-R headline (9/25/21) “COVID patients spike at Enloe,” is very discouraging. Enloe has eight times as many COVID-19 patients (over 100 & 90% unvaccinated) as they had exactly a year ago, leading to Enloe cancelling 100% elective surgeries or other procedures. This is unfair to people who have scheduled work and family schedules for their surgery to be held, maybe a week or two weeks later. And it is driving up our nation’s health costs.

Butte County has only 52% vaccinated with one dose, the same rate as Alabama! Yes Alabama! Do we tell our kids playing high school sports that your goal is to just win 50% of your games! Nationally, over 1,400 schools had to close for some time due to COVID-19 outbreaks in communities that also have low vaccination rates. Why are some adults doing that to kids?

— Bob Mulholland, Chico