On health care, vaccines, and community

Medical decisions by untrained, uninformed fiat. 

This whole situation about the vax schedule for kids, for the availability of medical care being decided by AI bots, for the cutting and gutting of funds for everything from research to school nurses and everything in between-- what is the end goal, really? I do not for one minute buy the idea it's about personal choice. Or parental rights. Or about unnecessary costs. People, from birth to old age, are going to-- are already--dying, due to the grossly incompetent mismanagement of health care in what should be one of the more advanced nations in the world. How is a dead and dying population any benefit? Parental productivity will plummet (hey, that alliteration works), and thus the workforce is impacted precariously (sorry, couldn't help myself). But in all seriousness, a proposed 22 visits in just the first year of a child's life? Copays for each visit? Time off work? And the actual needle fear that will be the obvious side effect for each child? And they also want labs drawn after each vax to check for antibodies? More pain, more anguish, more missed work, more costs. And for those without excellent insurance, this spells disaster for them, their kids, and for our whole society. And the BS being spouted: vaccines do not contain the same amount of liquid as a bottle of soda. Get real. 

One element of the vax situation with children that stands out starkly to me, and one that is not being discussed yet, is the compromising of the community. We have older folks (like me!) who are immunocompromised or who are in a situation where they live with someone who has fragile health (like me!), and teachers/staff in schools will be put in untenable situations with a lessened "herd immunity" and, heaven help us, sick kids who are transmitting dangerous diseases. 

Where's our choice? Our rights?

Vaccinations protect us all. I'm vaccinated, yes, but the key part is, it's not an impermeable shield. Vaccines work best when just about everyone has been vaccinated. Other people's "choice" makes it hard for anyone else to have a choice. And masks are still triggers for a lot of people. 

Teachers are already feeling like targets for violence, abuse, and other stressors. With the rise of "deep fake" AI, there's already anxiety about students making videos of teachers in compromising or illegal activity. And now this. 

The debate should not even be a debate; following best practices is smart. Following, or even listening to, the hogwash that is being spewed by those who are making health and wellbeing a political issue is a poor choice indeed. 

Be safe, and keep well. 

C