A Response to Anonymous

My last post, Your Child's Life, elicitated this response: 

"They (Trump) rushed to produce it. They (Trump) circumvented safety procedures. They (CDC) have not done long term human trials. They (Trump) gave the producers immunity from liability. They (Media) politicized any possible therapeutics. Prior to the 2020 election many Democrats had doubt about the safety of the vaccine too. You buy into the propaganda like sheep. Enjoy being a test subject." 

Dear Mr/Ms Anonymous, thank you for your comment. It allowed me a chance to explore answers for the statements you made. 

Yes, there was a rush to produce the vaccine. Americans were (and still are) dying in record numbers. So "They" (our government) agreed to purchase 100 million doses each of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines at a total cost of $2.45 Million, with the option of 500 million more doses of each. This pre-development agreement gave Moderna and Pfizer the ability to invest in the development and production of the vaccine without having to worry about "how marketable will it be?" (Pfizer and Moderna were not paid until the vaccine was delivered.) 

They (the drug companies) were able to build this vaccine on models that had been successfully used for other coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS. The technology is not new, what the manufacturers had to figure out was the right mix of mRNA instructions for our immune systems to defeat the virus. In essence, the manufacturers had a 10-year head start on developing this vaccine.  Regarding long-term trials: the vaccine is new, but the delivery system is not. Other vaccines using the same model have not had any severe long-term reactions. 

I've not been able to see where any safety procedures were circumvented, perhaps you can share that information with me? 

The PREP Act you refer to regarding immunity from liability was signed into law in 2005, by President George W. Bush. It is a limited-term immunity; for the Moderna, Pfizer, and J&J vaccines, that immunity expires in 2024.

 The only politicizing about the various therapeutics I have seen or read came from politicians. To the best of my knowledge, the Big 4 Media (ABC, CBS, CNN, MBC) reported on what the politicians or scientists said, but did not take sides on the issue. (I don't watch Fox, so I cannot say what they have or have not done.) 

Anonymous, I think everyone had some concerns about the safety of the vaccine at some point; as more scientific information becomes available, doubts disappear. At least, mine did. 

I don't buy into propaganda; I research, read, challenge, and think. I believe these vaccines are safe, effective, and necessary now. 

Thanks for reading! As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome and appreciated. 

R.M. "Bob" Hartman  

Musings from Camp, Part 1

As this summer continues to heat up socially, politically, and environmentally, I find myself wondering: Why are so many Americans afraid of the truth?

Let's talk first about the Covid pandemic. Six hundred thousand Americans have died from Covid. 600,000. That figure is more than the total American Military lives lost in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam combined. We have vaccines that work, we know masking and social distancing work. All of the above are FACTS. Cold, hard, dead facts. Yes, our local and state governments issued mask mandates. Masks work. So while the masks were uncomfortable, wearing them slowed the spread of this killer disease, which, when coupled with a vaccine, lowered the risk of being infected by Covid, and greatly reduced the severity of the disease, and reduced the number of people dying from it. Again, people, these are facts.

So how in the name of all that is holy, did this become a political issue? Can someone please explain to me why and how not dying from Covid has anything at all to do with the occupant of the White House? Can you explain, logically, how not spending your last days hooked to a ventilator is taking away your freedom? Can you tell me, truthfully, if your family will be proud of you for dying to prove your political point?

I think I will wait a long time for those answers. While I wait, would you please get vaccinated?

The cold, hard truth is: Vaccines work, masks work, social distancing works. What are you afraid of?

Thanks for reading, your comments are welcome, as always. 

R.M. "Bob" Hartman