Dear all:

We’re grateful for the scientific breakthroughs, the logistic miracles of production and distribution, and the dedication of our medical professionals. All teamed up to get many folks the immunity they need to better fight and survive the nearly continuous stream of – and likely continued evolution of – COVID variations.

Around 70% of the population in the US is probably “fully vaccinated” today.  By government standards, that probably means two doses of the mRNA vaccines Pfizer or Moderna, or the one-dose viral vector Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  My gut tells me that a shot of Johnson & Johnson, Sputnik, or Sinovac was a good start, but it may be a good idea to get one or two mRNA shots. There appear opportunities at present and ahead to build more immunity by follow-up shots. The “third shot” thinking is evolving too, and as official guidance from the CDC is released, all of us will be ready to rally and help wherever we can.

What about the unvaccinated in the world?

I’d love to see our country continue the miracles of production and distribution, to cover the world! 

Under the last two administrations, the federal government has spent or will spend trillions on financial relief, stimulus, infrastructure, etc. by printing money and contributing inevitably to inflation and currency devaluation.

For a fraction of those costs, we could pay to vaccinate the world!  The reduction of suffering on the planet would be huge – so would true economic recovery.

This article from the Associated Press points out how the current surge is really jamming hospitals and medical professionals:

‘Loss of hope’: Idaho hospitals crushed by COVID-19 surge (apnews.com)

Since this article was published on Friday, September 3, 2021 Idaho’s Crisis Standards of Care (CSC) Activation Advisory Committee met and activated crisis standards, limiting patients’ access to receive care in ten north Idaho counties.

We know most of this could be prevented were more folks choosing to vaccinate.

I look at vaccination as a personal, family, and civic duty. 

As president of a company serving critical infrastructure, I strongly encourage vaccination; Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) has made it easy for our communities as well as SEL folks and families to get vaccinated. We owe it to each other, not just ourselves.

I also respect folks who for their reasons choose not to get vaccinated. 

However, a choice not to vaccinate puts a special burden on that individual to be extra careful at home, at work, in town, and in between.

When we read news like that referenced above or realize there are a huge number of COVID patients under care in our critical access hospitals, most or all unvaccinated, it gives us pause to think about how important that special burden is.

And a choice by one not to vaccinate puts a burden on the rest of us, too.

Please join me in encouraging vaccination, with information, patience, understanding and respect towards those who so far have chosen not to but whose perspectives may be changing over time.

And please join me in encouraging our elected officials to expand our production and distribution efforts to cover the planet!

Sincerely,

Ed