There’s Still a Chance for the Unvaccinated

I am 74 years old. I was vaccinated against mumps, measles and rubella. I did not get mumps, measles or rubella.

I was vaccinated against diphtheria. I did not get diphtheria.

I was vaccinated against whooping cough. I did not get whooping cough.

I was vaccinated against tetanus. I did not get tetanus.

I was vaccinated against polio. I did not get polio.

I was vaccinated against smallpox. I did not get smallpox.

I was vaccinated against yellow fever. I did not get yellow fever.

I was vaccinated against typhoid. I did not get typhoid.

I was vaccinated against hepatitis B. I did not get hepatitis B.

I was vaccinated against pneumonia. I did not get pneumonia.

I was vaccinated against shingles. I did not get shingles.

I received gamma globulin vaccine while living in Africa to resist hepatitis A. I did not get hepatitis A.

I have been vaccinated against the flu for many years. I did not get the flu.

When the COVID-19 vaccine became available, I did not think, “Oh, I can’t take that vaccine. I don’t know what’s in it.” Instead, I did a review of my life of 74 years and realized how many vaccines have prevented me from dreaded diseases and even death, and then I embraced the opportunity to get one more vaccination to give me quality of life.

It may be that the almost 700,000 people who have died of COVID-19 might do things differently if given the chance. But that chance for them is gone. There is still a chance for those who are unvaccinated today.

By using a little common sense, and reviewing the vaccinations that were received in a lifetime – not knowing what was in those vaccines – we can beat this disease. Think about it.

Olin K. Sletto

Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin