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I’m done being patient with those who refuse to wear masks or get vaccinated. If you’ve spent the last year and a half spreading disinformation about COVID-19 or trying to persuade others against vaccination, I have little sympathy for your viewpoint. Scientific evidence clearly indicates that the risks associated with vaccine complications are minimal compared to the severe risks posed by COVID-19. The majority of hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 are among the unvaccinated.
It’s been established that masks significantly reduce disease transmission and are safe for healthy individuals. Anyone claiming otherwise is simply wrong. Opinions and conspiracy theories are not facts, and the spread of anti-science rhetoric has led to real harm.
I do empathize with those who experience legitimate medical anxiety or have a history of trauma that makes vaccination a complex issue for them. However, choosing not to get vaccinated and actively campaigning against it are two different matters. There will always be individuals who cannot receive vaccinations for valid medical reasons, which makes it crucial for eligible individuals to get vaccinated.
It’s infuriating that some politicians and anti-science factions have turned vaccination status into a political issue. This chaos could have been avoided, yet now we face the consequences—people are still dying when a simple vaccine could have saved them.
Regardless of individual reasons for not getting vaccinated, the result remains the same: unvaccinated individuals face a significantly higher risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. The highly contagious Delta variant has exacerbated this risk, leading to an increased number of serious cases.
Hospitals across the nation are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, and the majority of those needing emergency care are unvaccinated. Tragically, veterans with treatable conditions are facing dire situations due to a lack of available beds.
The Ethical Dilemma of Vaccination Status in Healthcare
In light of this crisis, some have raised a provocative question: Should vaccination status be a factor in determining who receives an ICU bed? Honestly, I find it challenging to engage with that question. Is it ethical to deny care based on vaccination status? If it were my unvaccinated loved one needing care, wouldn’t I want them to receive prompt treatment?
The idea of prioritizing care based on survival likelihood is a grim reality—remember the situation in Italy?—and underscores the urgent need to boost vaccination rates to prevent our healthcare system from reaching this breaking point.
Amidst this turmoil, some individuals have begun to equate vaccination status with other medical conditions, such as smoking-related lung cancer, heart disease from drug abuse, alcohol-related liver issues, and, notably, obesity. They argue that if individuals with conditions they “caused” themselves are entitled to medical care, then unvaccinated individuals should be as well.
Oh, dear. I have strong opinions about the obesity comparison—it’s a misguided argument.
Understanding the Misguided Comparisons
Firstly, it’s crucial to recognize that obesity is not contagious. None of these conditions are contagious; being around someone who is overweight does not make you gain weight. Similarly, lung cancer and liver disease are not contagious. The comparisons made by the anti-vaccine crowd are baseless and irrelevant.
Secondly, having a higher body weight is not an illness, nor do larger individuals pose a threat to hospital systems. Millions live with obesity, and pre-pandemic, there were never reports of ICU shortages due to patients with obesity. Their existence doesn’t endanger anyone else.
Moreover, it can be difficult for larger individuals to receive appropriate medical care even under the best conditions. If you believe that no one has received subpar COVID care due to their body size, I have news for you. While most healthcare professionals are dedicated heroes, bias against larger bodies in healthcare is well-documented and likely influenced pandemic care decisions.
Lastly, there is no vaccine or quick fix that can change a person’s body size overnight. The reality is that changing body size is a complex process without simple solutions. In contrast, COVID-19 vaccines are readily available, and obtaining them is straightforward—just a couple of shots can dramatically decrease the risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19.
This notion of considering vaccination status when prioritizing medical care arises not from a belief that everyone doesn’t deserve care, but from the reality that unvaccinated COVID patients are at a significantly higher risk of death. Hospitals are overburdened with individuals who chose not to protect themselves.
I cannot fault anyone for suggesting that vaccination status be a factor in medical decision-making. When resources are limited, difficult choices must be made about who receives care first. How can we ignore the responsibility to reduce suffering in our healthcare systems?
If anti-vaxxers wish to avoid hospitals making choices based on vaccination status and want to protect themselves from severe illness, the most effective action is to GET VACCINATED. Blaming others for their medical conditions or body size will not justify the choice to remain unvaccinated.
Conclusion
In summary, the comparisons being made between vaccination status and other health conditions are misguided and harmful. The focus should instead be on promoting vaccination and safeguarding public health.
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