Another good reason we all need to get vaccinated

As we wend our way through the confusion and tension generated by the COVID pandemic, one aspect of the debate concerning getting vaccinated or using masks needs to be more strongly underlined.

The first goal of any vaccine is to protect an individual from contracting an illness. But many people don’t see the COVID vaccine as a way of protecting themselves. Some prefer to risk getting the illness or believe it is not that serious. Many consider the injection to be more dangerous than the illness. And for many, the statement that masking or getting injected also protects others is taken to mean that if you did come down with the virus you’d be less likely to pass it along to family and friends.

But if you figure aren’t likely to get it and it’s not such a big deal anyway, these arguments may not be persuasive. Many people remain unconvinced that the vaccine offers valuable

protection.

More emphasis needs to be given to a third reason for getting vaccinated. As long as the epidemic continues, meaning that significant numbers of people are infected, the virus will go on changing and mutating. Some mutations may not present a large risk, but for several months now, we’ve been plagued by the delta variant, which has turned out to be much more contagious than the original version.

You are also more likely to be hospitalized with it. Today over 90 percent of people sick or hospitalized with COVID have contracted the delta variant, resulting in a strong upturn in cases since the summer, and more deaths. There remains the disturbing possibility that a future mutation could be more lethal than those infecting us today, in addition to the possibility of a variant that cannot be controlled by current vaccines.

The way to prevent this is to stop the spread of the virus. The more people who receive a vaccine and follow recommended guidelines for masks, the greater the chances of stopping that spread.

The point here is that you can help prevent future dangerous versions of COVID by helping to stop this one as soon as possible. The way to do that is to get vaccinated and follow other guidelines for curbing contagion. It’s a matter of contributing to the health and well-being of your community and the entire nation, not only that of yourself and your family. We all need to pull together to defeat this scourge.

Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media A sign requiring masks or face covering hangs on the front door of the Morton Government Center in Bridgeport.