I saw a blog post by one of the wonderful people I follow on a topic that I've been thinking of a lot. I'm sure most of you have been giving it a fair share of mental real estate as well, so I thought it might be worth sharing some thoughts and giving some space to start a conversation about it. Let's talk about vaccines. Specifically, Covid-19 Vaccines.
This is one of the subjects that I have a fairly limited scope of knowledge on, technically speaking, so I'm going to focus on what I know from what I've read and heard from people in the medical field. Your feedback in this conversation is welcome. Perspective is a beautiful thing. If you're reading this, I'm guessing you value it as well.
Let's start off by saying that there's some major positives of certain vaccines. Polio, Typhoid, HPV, Hepatitis, TB, Measles... There's some diseases out there that we're able to almost eliminate due to vaccines and that's pretty damn valuable. That being said, there's no free lunch. I'm sure there was some issues with some of these vaccines. I'm sure that there's still issues with some of these vaccines. Is there personal risk worth the reward for the whole of society? I think that depends on a few things.
The world over is looking down the barrel of a loaded gun, but the ammunition isn't lead this time. This ammunition comes in the form of biological agents. Micro scale biological matter that has the ability to effectively change your DNA- the building block of what makes you- you. For that reason- I think this is probably one of the most important conversations to be having right at the moment.
When's the last time you were in a situation that required a judgement call out of your scope of knowledge where the consequences could be fatal? Who would you turn to in such a situation for advice? I would surmise, most people would say their doctor. What would that mean if doctors don't fully comprehend what they're being given or are being given incomplete information? Are they operating on assumption because of a confirmation bias that vaccines are safe and familiar to us because of their widespread and adoptive use for other diseases?
My main concern about the possibility of this confirmation bias playing part in the wide spread adoption of hastily produced vaccines is that there may be enough people in the world who are fed up enough or trusting enough to take a vaccine at face value without regarding the potential consequences. Even if I wasn't a decent and kind person, why should I give a shit what other people do with their bodies? In most other matters, as long as what other people are doing doesn't harm others, I have no desire to judge or condemn someone else's lifestyle choices. I'm nearly ashamed to say that the answer to this question comes down to greed. More accurately- to self interest, self preservation and the preservation of the lives and way of life of those who I love.
I've stated previously that I am not an expert in the field of vaccines and I am working from a limited understanding of the technical details, so please bear that in mind when I say this:
Untested vaccines being distributed to the global population without scrupulous and stringent action being taken to safeguard their manufacturing, testing, quality control and distribution in a transparent manner with proper accountability for the testing of a live vaccine on that population just seems like a poor choice. Worse than a jug of milk on a hot, Sand Diego day. (Tangent Yeah... That's an "Anchorman" reference, but it was getting to serious here for this guy. Even though I choose to write this, I don't like it all that much. Aside from opening up Pandora's box to the criticism and (sometimes idiocy) to the possible shit storm that comes from people sharing their candid opinion these days, I'd rather ponder the meaning of life or write a script. Again, I digress. Back to the point.)
This is, without a doubt, the largest scale manufacturing and distribution of biological agents in the known history of this planet and the intent is to test it on the global population. I say this not out of fear, but out of an abundance of caution and scrutiny. This is not to be taken lightly or to be treated casually if you intend to match your attitude to the scope of the situation. I don't write this to create fear, but to provoke thought in hopes that people will ask questions, seek answers and share knowledge. If we truly are "all in this together", as so many politicians are saying, then, feeding into a climate of cognitive dissonance isn't going to get us anywhere better than we are now. In fact, I believe that only leads to a dark and inhospitable place that I don't want to live in, whether it be in thought or in life. Without Uberrima Fides- which translates literally from Latin to mean "most abundant faith", which outlines legal contracts to this day, can we really have honesty and trust? Without proper accountability and consequence can good faith realistically be achieved where the motives of money are so large?
If you're thinking you'd like to get a vaccine once they're available to you, this is not me judging you and I should be perfectly clear in saying that I respect people making up their own mind once they have the facts. The key to that statement for those in the back row is- be informed. The toughest part about this is that being informed in this situation is not easy. One source says one thing and another says something completely different. Professionals in the medical field post content only for massive tech companies to remove their content due to "community guidelines" to prevent the "false information" that doesn't suit their narrative. In this one paragraph alone, I can hear the scoffing of some as they likely ready themselves to a quick retort of everything I've said because they likely don't fully comprehend the magnitude of censorship that's being practiced by some of the most influential institutions on this planet. To that, I say this: I respect your right to your opinion and your right to share it with those that would seek it. If you wish to engage in conversation, feel free to share that opinion with all and with-hold nothing. I am far from infallible and completely out of my scope of technical understanding when it comes to the science of vaccines. I am open to the honest and sincere feedback of those who would add to a conversation that we all stand to gain from if we maintain our own integrity and honor by exercising, not only our ability to share an opinion, but our ability to self govern in a way that honors the freedoms we hold dear.
At this point, I believe the one things we need most is transparency in the science of this whole pandemic, the vaccines and the treatments. The fact that everything has become so heavily politicized is contemptable and despicable. The fact that doctors and scientists are being suppressed when coming forth with medical evidence of treatments that have worked to prevent or treat this disease is another thing entirely, but worthy of mention and the least. If there are, in fact, treatments for this disease, than why would we need to rush a vaccine. In sales, you're taught that if a sales process is being pushed to hard or fast from either side, use discernment and caution. The difference here is that you're not getting screwed on a car deal if you lose, your life and well being are in the mix. Caveat Emptor can be coined to be a warning or an ideal on which trust is built. It translates from Latin to "Let the buyer beware." This is a promotion of transparency as much as it is a call for self sufficiency. Transparency is a foundation for trust that must be fostered through proven action. Self sufficiency is fostered through personal growth and communities that build individuals. Both are required learning in the jungle we live in.
I'm not sure if this will be a shout "into the void", like Natalie Portman and Zack Braff in "Garden State" or if these thoughts will spark a larger conversation amidst the whirlwind of chaos that is so prevalent in the current landscape of social media, media and what seems like the world at large. I have no expectations either way. I'm just really glad that writing this has been so cathartic. Probably not quite as good as standing at the edge of the void and screaming, but I'll take it for what I can and keep dreaming that one day in this crazy world, I might be standing at the edge of the void with Natalie Portman and Zack Braff. Or- at the very least, be standing there myself and remembering this moment as I enter into a new dominion of clarity and contentment, knowing that I finally know what it feels like to scream into something that can never become an echo chamber or an enemy of inner peace.
I'll close with this thought. I may not know you, but I love you and I hope you're well. We may never meet, but I wish you the very best that life has to offer. May your life be blessed with abundance, prosperity and hope and a lifetime of health.
Much love to you all. Stay well and be kind to one another.
Royalty free image courtesy of:
https://unsplash.com/photos/mAGZNECMcUg
