The saddest biographies I’ve read lately are the deathbed confessions from formerly staunch anti-vaxxers. They had a cornucopia of reasons for not wearing masks nor getting vaccinated. As illness ravaged away their political opposition to fighting a virus, they expressed regret and urged loved ones to get vaccinated. At least those who lingered long enough to communicate.
One father of a 5-month old baby boy urged others to get vaccinated prior to succumbing to a COVID infection. Looking at that sweet picture of a proud father and angelic cherub who was his daddy’s spitting image, I wondered what would it take to persuade people to fight against COVID. Obviously, this son wasn’t enough to sway his father.
As someone who chose to be childfree, I’ve often heard parents state that they would do anything for their children, but, as I’m seeing, there are limits to that. Some parents, such as this guy, were far more concerned about political rights than raising their children into adulthood.
Then, other parents, fight tooth and nail against healthcare professionals and school employees for insisting on a mask mandate. Again, political rants about freedom are far more important than minimizing their children’s exposure to COVID.
At the same time, I question why, when they succumb to the virus, do these same people then go to the hospital? After all, if they didn’t trust medical professionals enough to wear a mask or get vaccinated, why bother after the fact? Do healthcare workers appear more trustworthy during the fever dream of infection? Is suddenly trusting healthcare professionals a symptom of COVID among anti-vaxxers/-maskers?
As talk of herd immunity and booster shots swirl, medical innovators continue to experiment with different preventative delivery systems. I continue to be optimistic about different breakthroughs such as an inhaler, which coats the lungs with an anti-viral treatment. I’m hoping that those who fear that the vaccination shot includes a microchip, will be the first in line for the inhaler. Until misinformation sets in.
Speaking of which, another grizzly biography I heard just today involved a man who killed his two young children because they had “lizard DNA.” Some newfangled QAnon thing, which I don’t think is even directly related to COVID, but these are such desperate times, I wonder if, in general, people with borderline mental health issues have been pushed over the edge.
Another innovation I hope manifests will be different avenues for coping with extreme stress.