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Dear Editor;
I believe since we have had approximately 800,000 people die from Covid that it is time to pay attention to the experts. We cannot play politics with people's lives. Our children were doing virtual learning or one year of school and are now back in school.
I believe we should be happy that we live in a country that was able to get the Covid vaccine made and distributed to adults quite fast. I was very happy to have the protection for myself, my children and now my grandchildren too.
We have had vaccines for years for diseases such as the flu, polio, small pox, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, etc. We have seen many of these illnesses practically eradicated for children and adults. These vaccines were a blessing because many people died or were left with a mental or physical handicap by these illnesses. Many times people forget why the vaccines were created or the seriousness of these diseases. Vaccines are only available for viruses because bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. This is our only means of protecting ourselves from the virus, is to get the vaccine.
In the beginning, the only thing we had to protect ourselves was to wear a mask, social distance and wash our hands frequently. These things helped a lot to keep us safe. We now can get the vaccine and we know it saves lives and if we would follow the rules and continue to wear a mask and social distance for the good of all and not think only of ourselves, it will work. You have the option to follow rules or suffer the consequences. There is not a perfect solution but if you are in healthcare, school, or a factory (around a lot of people) it is the best for all that we look out for each other. I know that people feel that their rights are being infringed on, but my rights are infringed on when you do not follow the rules and you are around me.
Let's work together to end this pandemic and help out communities to recover from the devastation and disruption that Covid has caused.
Sincerely,
Patricia Hazen
Bagley, WI