Thoughts on the Covid Vaccine
Terri Reinhart
I have come full circle on the issue of vaccinations.
When our children were young, we were blessed and privileged to have an MD pediatrician who avoided antibiotics whenever possible and prescribed homeopathic remedies for ear infections. He made sure the hospital did NOT give the routine vaccinations before our youngest left the NICU at age 2 months because he wanted to talk with us first. We discussed each vaccine before deciding whether to give it. We did some, but not all, when they were children. I understand the idea of letting our bodies fight childhood illnesses and the strengthening that occurs when we allow this to happen – with the support of a doctor who monitors our health closely. Working with health organically is certainly the ideal.
However, our world is far from ideal. I realize just how privileged we were and how few people have the opportunity and support we did.
Awhile back, I had a long conversation with a friend from London. He had been born and raised in poverty in Ireland. They were, in fact, neighbors of the McCourt family (Angela’s Ashes). Mikka spoke about all the children who died from the “normal” childhood illnesses in his community; the empty seats in the classrooms, the visits to homes to kneel and pray by their friends’ open coffins. Mikka was angry about the “anti-vaxxers” because they didn’t understand what it was like before vaccines.
I chose to get the Covid vaccine. I also got a flu vaccine this year.
Pharmaceutical companies have a bad rap, for many reasons. They have a lot of work to do to earn people’s trust. I’ve had the opportunity to talk with Pharmaceutical executives and tell them as much. That said, there is so much they have done that has been truly helpful. That a drug company would price gouge a drug like insulin is unconscionable, but it doesn’t mean insulin isn’t an amazing drug. I have Parkinson’s disease/Dopamine Responsive Dystonia. I take a miracle drug (carbidopa/levadopa) that allows me to continue to walk, talk, drive – to do what I want to do. Other therapies, when available and affordable, can be very helpful, but cannot take the place of my meds. Believe me, I’ve tried.
There are changes that need to happen in health care. It needs to become more of CARE for our HEALTH than just treating illnesses, but you might be surprised to hear how many people within the health system are working toward these changes. I had the wonderful opportunity to learn about this when I did some work with PCORI (Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute) some years ago. I was a part of conversations with doctors, social workers, teachers, scientists, and clergy. I heard about programs all over the country which are creating health care communities. I heard how PCORI insists that clinical study goals are goals set by patients, not clinicians, before applications can be approved for funding… and more… lots more.
I chose to get the Covid vaccine. I chose it at this time because I feel it is the best chance we have to keep our family safe and the best way to get Covid under control.
For those who choose not to get the vaccine, I ask you to do two things:
1) If you must go out around people, wear a mask , even if you don’t have symptoms. Definitely stay home if you have any symptoms of any illness! Be responsible for your decisions and keep people safe, people such as the two in our household who are immunocompromised. How many people are out there with compromised immune systems who cannot take off work, cannot avoid being around people, and cannot afford alternative health care?
2) Recognize you are coming from a place of privilege and your decision is a luxury few people in the world today can afford. Ironically, your ability to easily get a vaccine is also a privilege.
Terri Reinhart
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/08/26/215761377/a-history-of-snake-oil-salesmen
https://exploreim.ucla.edu/research/researching-integrative-medicine-challenges-and-innovations/