Falsehoods are coming right out of the vaccine playbook
In a recent letter (“They’re removing our freedom to choose”), the writer asserts three falsehoods that are right out of the anti-vaccination playbook. 1) 99.97 percent chance of survival after COVID infection, and that the vaccination is “ineffective” compared to other prior vaccines because 2) it doesn’t prevent all infection and 3) doesn’t prevent the spread of the virus.
The actual current mortality rate according to John Hopkins University is 1.8 percent. The number cited by the writer comes from any number of currently circulating anti-vaccination memes that have no basis in fact.
No vaccination has ever been 100 percent effective (measles, 97 percent; polio, 99 percent; mumps, 88 percent; pertussis, 90 percent, per the CDC). As for measured protection of the vaccine based on clinical trials and ongoing prospective observation and research, fully vaccinated people are 8 times less likely to be infected (if you don’t get infected you can’t spread the virus) and 25 times less likely to be hospitalized or die (CDC). The vaccinated can get infected, but they shed virus for a shorter period of time and are less contagious.
The survivability metric is the least important right now and ignores the toll of long COVID. The impact on the health care system, long-term disability and death are the most important metrics. Experience has shown that the current surge is driven primarily by the unvaccinated. The U.S. has administered 401 million doses of the vaccine to date, and clinical testing, and ongoing study and experience demonstrates that the vaccines are safe, and effective at preventing infection, transmission, disability, hospitalization and death. — Stephen Hanson, Bakersfield
MY FAMILY CHOOSES TO LIVE FREE
I am amazed how closed-minded and misinformed people are regarding the vaccine. Are people really willing to gamble their health and welfare of themselves, children and grandchildren on the current administration? This leader with his Afghanistan, border policy and current economy debacles represent a poor example of a president.
How many previous immunizations have been marketed to receive cash or some reward if taken? Why are they pushing a suspect vaccine that doesn’t even protect you from the virus? Are school vaccine mandates by current political bureaucrats, influenced by powerful unions and special interest groups, qualified to make this decisions for our children?
I hope more Patriots speak out in support of our Constitutional freedoms. My family chooses to live free not in fear.
— Dennis McLean, Bakersfield
VACCINE IS EFFECTIVE
Letters published in Tuesday’s Californian rail against COVID vaccine mandates. They complain about the “loss of freedom” and go on to demonize Democrats, politicians (at least those they don’t agree with), social safety net programs, gun control efforts, LGBTQ rights, climate change mitigation efforts and the vaccine itself.
One claim common to both letters was the myth that the original colonists came to the “new world” for freedom, particularly religious freedom.
A small number of the original colonists were motivated, in part, by a desire to relocate away from places hostile to their religion. Those coming for “religious freedom,” however, wanted the freedom to impose their own religious beliefs and dogma, and to exclude and persecute anyone who dared practice a different religion. Only the eventual British Colonial rule stopped the petty religious tyrants.
Most colonists came to America for economic opportunity. The same reason most immigrants come to America today, a better life for themselves and their families.
Vaccine mandates are part of this nation from its founding. General George Washington mandated smallpox vaccine for his troops during the Revolutionary War, on pain of hanging for refusing.
The letters also make misleading statements about the COVID vaccine’s effectiveness. No vaccine is 100 percent effective. The approved vaccines are 90 percent-plus effective in preventing symptomatic infection, 90 percent-plus effective in preventing serious illness requiring hospitalization, and nearly 100 percent effective in preventing death. That’s pretty effective in my opinion. I can LIVE with that. And 700,000-plus Americans have DIED without it!
— Ralph McKnight Jr., Bakersfield
DON’T DIVIDE AMERICA BY SHADES OF COLOR
The spread of critical race theory in schools is a dangerous ideological movement to divide Americans.
Parents are upset that some teachers are telling white students that they are perpetuating racism while telling Black children they are locked out of the American dream.
The National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers’ union, shows that there is a coordinated effort by the education establishment to force teachers to promote CRT in the classroom and to work to destroy its critics.
Parents participated in their children’s athome learning and what they saw disturbed them. Instead of trying to improve America’s failing grades on math and science, schools spent class time indoctrinating kindergartens, teaching 5-year-olds about “racist police” and telling students that all white people play a part in perpetuating systemic racism.
Do you believe these young students know what you are talking about?
Parents know that CRT-based curricula are infiltrating their schools, and they overwhelmingly reject it. The children should be taught about the American dream instead of the idea that their destiny is tied to their skin color. America is not a racist country.
Will we choose to side with an education establishment that promotes racist ideologies to our children, lies to parents about it, then campaigns to silence dissidents? Or will they side with concerned parents of all colors and creeds who would rather see our schools educate than indoctrinate?