The controversy behind the COVID-19 vaccines
The question to get or not get the COVID-19 vaccine is getting closer to many. However, the effectiveness of the vaccine is still unclear.
We have all heard the advice to not talk about sex, politics, and religion at the dinner table. We learn to grow up avoiding topics that divide opinions. However, politics have become much bigger than what candidate you support. Politics have become a case of moral standards. You decide which side you want to be on. As the COVID-19 has been politicized, it has become an argumentative topic. A recent poll shows that forty-three percent of Republicans will likely not get vaccinated, in contrast to ten percent of Democrats.
The delta variant of the COVID-19 is now the predominant strain in the United States. According to the CDC, the shots available in the US (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson) can prevent the spread of the COVID-19, including the delta variant. The agency also suggests that people may return to their regular life after achieving “fully vaccinated” status. However, recent studies have found that the vaccines might not be as effective in preventing the spread of the delta variant compared to its preventative effectiveness against earlier variants. Currently, there are no peer-reviewed studies on how effective the vaccines are in preventing infections with the delta variant. A few studies in the UK have shown that some vaccines, including Pfizer, are less effective against the delta variant that was initially anticipated.
Israel was the first country to fully vaccinate most of its citizens (more than 60% of the vaccination rate) and offer the third dose of the Pfizer vaccine. However, after the delta variant arrived in the country, the number of cases increased. Moreover, scientists have found that if you had COVID-19 you are likely to make antibodies for a lifetime. On the other hand, nobody knows the effectiveness of immunity in the long term. Furthermore, much uncertainty exists as many people question whether vaccines will be effective against newly emerging mutated strains.
Surely, getting the vaccine should not be a choice, as getting the shot you not only protect yourself but your loved ones. However, with the number of misleading information and contradictions about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines, shouldn’t people decide for themselves what is best for their lives and the ones they love?
Topics like politics are not only dividing the country in two, but they also have the potential to divide families. Unfortunately, my family is part of this statistic. As for now, half of my family does not talk with the other half (I am the only person who still talks with both sides). My strategy when talking to my family or friends about politics or any difficult topic is to put my thoughts and biases aside and truly listen to what each side has to say. I believe that, in my family’s case, everybody bases their views on their unique perspectives.
During one of my recent trips to Brazil, I had a great conversation with my sister about politics. At first, I listened to her attacking the conservative political party. However, when she began to talk about how the democratic political party would benefit many unprivileged people like herself, I saw the reasoning behind why she chose to take the stance she did. However, when I went to see my brother, he showed me how the conservative political party benefits small business owners, like himself. And he was correct. Each political party is beneficial for a different segment of the population. People tend to choose things that are going to benefit them personally.
