Paul's Heart

What Kind Of Argument Would You Prefer?

We were in the single digits of cases of Covid19, when I began mentally preparing for what was likely ahead. That was January of 2020. Being immuno-compromised, it is in my best interest to know about outbreaks that can impact me, and the best way to prevent contracting a virus or at least protect myself as best possible.

It has been over a year and a half, twenty months, that I began precautions and planning. Soon after, as the recommendations came, to wear a mask, keep a certain distance from others, and for the life of me, I will never figure why we needed to be reminded of this, but to wash our hands.

Just as the express lane of a highway gets you to the same destination as the other lanes being travelled, I got my information from a medical “highway” of knowledge, my doctors, a.k.a the express lanes, and the rest of the information from reputable sources. And most times, like the both lanes of the highway, both of my sources got me to the same place, occasionally there were some detours, and when that occurred, I stayed in the express lane with my doctors.

What I am going to state now, is not fact, well at least not to you, reading this, it is purely anectdotal, a story, unless you personally know me that you can confirm this, it is not science, so other than my words, there are no facts. But I can tell you, this is the truth. Twenty months, wearing a mask, distancing, washing hands, staying away from indoor activities as best as I can, I have not contracted Covid19 (as I quickly run to knock on wood). In other words, I took the advice, that my doctors and others recommended, and used it, and it has been successful to this point.

Hence, the first equation, 1 + 1 = 2. It is something that can pretty much be agreed on. And as simple as this equation is, it should have been this simple in dealing with Covid19, just as we had with SARS, swine flu, MERS, and others. Instead, a different kind of math occurred, resulting in an argument equivalent as saying 1 + 1 = 3. While the calculation is clearly wrong, it is close enough to have a strong debate, or a hot argument. Sides soon emerge, agreeing with fact, that the correct answer is 2, while others cling to not just the possibility of the answer being 3, but willing to make it work.

This kind of argument was troubling, because it would lead to where we are today. What would have otherwise just been another virus that we would have had things in place to deal with, politics was introduced into a health crisis, where it had no business being put. The fuse lighting that stick of TNT? A president only liked by half of the citizens, rushing in quick defense of the president before the first attack from any opposition. Realizing this was going to be more serious than anticipated, and this is on video footage forever, the president downplayed the seriousness from beginning on, even as cases climbed and people died. I do not want to get lost in weeds here, because this stage is not my point. My point was, just as the erroneous middle equation, things were close enough to make the argument, and keep it going, and sometimes, quite angrily.

But here we are, twenty months later, and like an Abbot And Costello routine, a different type of argument has emerged, and now it is a matter of, is this the type of argument you want to keep having, because just as absurd as 1 + 1 = 5 is, so is where we are at in August of 2020, and there seems to be no end, although we have the methods and the means to do so.

The problem with the Abbot and Costello routine, is that Lou Costello actually made it work, three different ways. The video is much more compelling than me explaining it and showing pictures, but he could divide 7 into 28 thirteen times, multiply 13 times 7 to get 28, and add 13 seven times and get 28. And this was before “new math” came along.

But this is where we are today with Covid19. There are people making a similar argument style to Covid19 as Abbot and Costello did with math. Just like that, likely to make you want to pull your hair out.

Science is not perfect. Science is not the truth, it is about finding the truth, and that means that there will be mistakes along the way. I know way too many people who did not take the precautions that I did and came down with Covid19, and too many who died from it. I also know some who did follow the precautions, and whether fatigue or letting their guard down, came down with Covid19 as well. And even fellow Hodgkin’s survivors with issues similar to mine, came down with Covid19, amazingly, hardly any casualties that I am aware of anyway. And that I will attribute to the way we survivors are more concerned about our health given all we have gone through.

I am truly disgusted at the efforts at this point, which now have our situation heading way worse than last year. Seriously, referring to a mask as a muzzle? Do those making that argument even know what a muzzle is and what it is used for? Not even close. Arguing that freedom and liberty are lost? Get out of here. I am as free today as the day I was born 55 years ago. The dichotomy between arguing over public health and liberty/freedom is ridiculous, as liberty and freedom have nothing to do with surviving Covid19.

But like I said, after arguing for twenty months that 1 + 1 does not = 3, I neither have the patience or the will to argue with anyone trying to make sense that 1 + 1 = 5.

The only correct answer to the equation of 1 + 1 = 2. If we are to get through Covid19 once and for all, wear the damn mask. Get the damn vaccine. Stop spreading the virus, keeping distance and washing hands. We were once at the point just a month ago of 11,000 cases a day after being over 200,000 a day back in the Winter. We are now back over 130,000 and skyrocketing. 1 + 1 = 2 damnit!

An Important Clarification And Distinction

It is hard to believe that we are more than a year and a half out, and we are still completely split in opinion, support, and action when it comes to dealing with the Covid19 pandemic. While this is literally a global issue, in the United States, we have the ability, the knowledge, the skills, to at least get a grip, to confine it, to control it, yet we cannot.

The problem is not a new one. But between special interests, social and right wing media, the efforts could not have been made more difficult and confusing. It began so badly, that even political positioning took a priority over one’s health.

It is July, 2021, over a year and a half into the Covid19 pandemic, over half a year now, our best effort to deal with the Corona virus, several vaccines available, and we still cannot see the end of this pandemic as numbers of cases begin to rise again. Science stated, “do these things, wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands, and we can get this under control.” But the response by too many was after expecting people to do the right thing, “nope, I am free to do what I want and I won’t do those things.”

Factor in the anti-vax movement, which admittedly, has been around seemingly forever, just during Covid19, has gotten extremely loud and visible. The problem with the anti-vax movement is that they are all or nothing. Yes, every medicine, every vaccine comes with its risks. HEEEELLLLOOOO… I made the choice to be treated for cancer, by experimental treatments and I am here thirty-one years later, but I do have issues from those treatments. I could have been anti-treatment, but then you know what I would be? DEAD!

And that is the problem that I have with the anti-vax movement, right wing media, and all of these other special interest groups. Just the other day, on one of the extreme right news channels, one of the commentators actually stated, “maybe nature meant to create things that wipe out entire civilizations, and we are interfering with that.” Seriously? This person believes that we should just let Covid19 rip through the globe and the world resets? I should not be surprised as it was a similar mentality in living during the beginning stages of the AIDS crisis back in the 1980’s.

So, let me get set. My position has always been, that I support the vaccine. At the same time, because of my health history, I know that my vulnerability to Covid19 is extreme, but I also know that I will have issues with the effectiveness of the vaccine. And sure, there is a part of me, though no longer a dominant thought, that I was uncomfortable with the process of the discovery and development of the vaccines that are currently available.

To be clear, my opinion is my own. I do not learn important details about dealing with Covid19 from media resources, the details come from my own doctors who I trust completely, more on that in a minute. But I do have pillars that support the decisions that I make, and that does include facts reported by reputable news sources (typically central in political lean), science, and common sense.

For instance, did you know the actual discovery process for the Corona virus was actually started around ninety years ago? To grasp this concept, and put as simple as possible, just as the flu, and other diseases, it is only the strains that change over the years, but the foundations of the base virus itself are still the same. So, even though we are dealing with Covid19, named after its discovery in the year 2019, according to USA today (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/01/21/fact-check-covid-19-vaccine-nearly-20-years-making/3873247001/), the Corona virus has been around since 1930. And even more familiar to our memories, the prior most famous Corona virus, was SARS, back in 2003. This one stands out to me in my memory, because it was in less than a year, I would travel to adopt my daughter. So yes, the development of a vaccine does take a long time, but science did not just start working on this vaccine in 2020. It was started almost two decades ago. So when the president created “Operation Warp Speed,” it was definitely meant to make the process go faster, but the truth is, the discovery part of the process was already there, it was just the research of the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, which cannot be sped up because clinical trials take time to occur, but also the bureaucratic process that really takes time.

Fortunately, studies were showing that the vaccines that were being developed worked, and were safe, and that was based on healthy patients, with no comorbidities (that is how clinical trials work, you have to be otherwise healthy). Statistically, scientists do not expect 100% results and when it comes to vaccines, a success range of 65-75% is considered good. Two of the top contenders against Covid19 have success of well over 95%. Historically, this is unheard of.

But that will not stop someone from protesting the success of the Covid19 vaccine, instead with a reference to “VAERS”, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, established by our own government. Those that use this website as the backbone of their arguments against the vaccine make it awfully convenient that they forget one major issue, rather a disclaimer (https://vaers.hhs.gov/data.html). You see, anyone can file a claim on VAERS, it does not have to be the doctor or administrator of the vaccine, it could be a patient. The fact is, there is no verification of any claim. There is no proof provided. Just taking someone’s uninvestigated and unproven word for it. VAERS states, “VAERS reports alone cannot be used to determine if a vaccine caused or contributed to an adverse event or illness. The reports may contain information that is incomplete, inaccurate, coincidental, or unverifiable. In large part, reports to VAERS are voluntary, which means they are subject to biases. This creates specific limitations on how the data can be used scientifically. Data from VAERS reports should always be interpreted with these limitations in mind.” Using VAERS as a reason to not get the vaccine, is definitely flawed.

Then there is the misconception about what the vaccine is really for. While the vaccine definitely shows that it can prevent contracting Covid19, it definitely shows the benefit of lessening the severity such as requiring hospitalization or death. And that alone should be a pretty strong motivator. The science is still out if it will prevent carrying Covid19 asymptomatic. And there are known cases of still contracting Covid19 after the vaccine, though either with few or no symptoms. One thing is for certain, deaths attributed to Covid19 in recent weeks, average well over 97%, all were unvaccinated. That is a damning statistic.

But here is what the vaccine does not do (all addressed by the CDC). It does not make you magnetic. It is safe to get pregnant. It will not alter your DNA. It will not cause you to get Covid19 (if you contract it, you got it from someone or somewhere else, that is the only way).

Alright Paul, a lot of info here, so what does that have to do with your concerns and not getting the vaccine… yet? As I have previously mentioned, as a result of having had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and one of the procedures used to diagnose me, left me without my spleen, I am what is referred to as “immuno-compromised.” Simply put, I have a hard time fighting illnesses or avoiding them. But as I also found out many years ago, my body does not make antibodies for vaccines without boosters or additional vaccine. In my childhood, I was given the usual vaccines that were considered lifetime. During my Hodgkin’s days, in preparation for diagnosing, staging, and treatment, I was given additional vaccines for other illnesses, they too were supposed to be lifetime.

Surprise! They were not lifetime, at least, they were not any longer. Worse, once discovered that I no longer had protection, I would need multiple doses, of what at one time was supposed to be one and done forever, to get immunity. And that is where I am at right now with the Covid19 vaccine. There is no schedule for more than just the two shots. There are no plans for boosters, though there at least is discussion and studies now being conducted on additional dosing.

The position I have taken, is that for me to take the two doses, and the likelihood of them being ineffective, do nothing for me physically or mentally. I would not be able to resume non-mitigation life with the false sense of security provided. And with no plan or approval for additional doses if needed, when the option would eventually come out, would the process still be viable, or would I have to start all over.

There are two confusing issues right now concerning this. One, the talk over boosters. Pfizer, one of the vaccine makers says it wants Emergency Use Authorization for boosters. Of course, our government wants the concentration on getting more people originally vaccinated before concentrating on boosters. Then of course there is the cynicism of Pfizer’s perceived financial benefits of booster approval being a priority.

The other confusing thing, not lost in all of this, the vaccines are not “approved” yet. Sure it is just a formality until all the red tape is completed, but with hundreds of millions of doses administered, and hardly any adverse or serious confirmed reactions, these vaccines will do what they are supposed to. In other words, we need those vaccines officially approved, and that will take away yet another argument by those hesitating or refusing to get the vaccine.

As I said, I am for the vaccine. Logic, science, and common sense are guiding me when I will finally get it. But as our nation sees an extreme and quick uptick in new cases due to the more dangerous strain, I may have to alter my thinking a bit. Because, while I have been able to “live” among Covid19 for this long and not face a Covid19 diagnosis, the odds are closing in on me, especially as I live in an area that is notorious for denial of not just the vaccine, but even the virus itself, and the politics of the individuals. While I respect people’s rights to have their opinions, the reasons behind their choices in this situation are completely misguided, delusional, and dangerous.

The last time we dealt with something so catastrophic like this, was polio. And do you know why we do not have an issue with polio and have not had an issue with polio for decades? Because we had a vaccine. We did not have a country whose citizens decided that it was acceptable for millions of people to die from something preventable to avoid a vaccine.

Just this morning, I saw an interview with Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC director. The question was put to him, specifically about boosters for people like me, whether battling cancer, history of cancer, or compromised immune systems. He replied that there needs to be an understanding, there is a difference between a booster, and a schedule of a third shot. A booster is used when the coverage from the vaccine is waning. But what is being studied is the “schedule” of what it takes to get to that level of immunity. When and should a third dose, or possibly a fourth dose be given? And would it be safe? While I have been stating this concern for a long time, this is the first that I have finally heard it mentioned. And I am glad that they are now looking into this.

I have two resources that I rely heavily on for when I make this decision, both personal doctors of mine. One, anxiously waits for me to go ahead and do it, because he definitely feels I need it, and I do not disagree. But my other doctor agrees with how cautious I am being. But when these two doctors align, that will be my time. Not the media. Not opinions. Facts. Science.