Opinion
A4
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
OUR VIEW
We all
could use
a boost
L
et’s face it — we’re all tired of COVID-19.
We’re weary of the restrictions,
exhausted by the frequent reports and
becoming numb to the severe aspects of a disease
no one knew about two years ago.
Our fatigue, though, is nothing like that of the
hundreds of health care workers in our state who
have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19
pandemic for almost two years.
And now, we have the omicron variant of the
disease, which is coming, and no one can stop it.
Rather than fall into the trap of being jaded by
the newest manifestation of the COVID-19 virus,
we must take lessons learned over the past year
and a half and execute them.
We don’t know a lot about the omicron variant,
but what we do know isn’t very encouraging.
Scientists are already alerting the public omi-
cron could become the dominant variant of the
infection by late January and trigger a fi fth wave
of cases.
Evidence at this point seems to show that a
two-dose course of vaccines is less eff ective at
preventing a mild infection. However, scientists
also believe two doses of the vaccine will off er
some protection from a severe case.
What does seem to help? Vaccine boosters.
Boosters seem to be much more eff ective against
omicron, and scientists and health authorities are
urging people to get them.
We could negate the coming wave of omi-
cron by following health guidelines and getting
boosters.
Clearly a choice to get a booster — or to get
a fi rst or second dose of the vaccine — is a per-
sonal one. We hope that those who are not vacci-
nated, or are considering a booster, talk with their
health care provider and study reputable sources
to determine if a vaccine, or booster, is the right
choice for them.
At the very least, we are not going to be caught
off guard by the arrival of omicron. That is good
news. Knowing a crisis is on the horizon is the
fi rst step in overcoming it.
We need to be cautious about the onset of omi-
cron but not panicky. We have the resources to
defeat this latest round of COVID-19 and we, in
Eastern Oregon, are a resilient group that can
overcome any crisis.
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YOUR VIEWS
Misinformation
to blame for lagging
vaccination rates
Here is something to think about
as we enter the winter months,
with the potential for an uptick in
COVID-19 and the variants of delta
and omicron. This information was
updated as of Dec. 5, 2021, and
heard on NPR’s “Morning Edition.”
The print article was headlined
“Pro-Trump counties now have far
higher COVID death rates. Misin-
formation is to blame.”
Since May 2021, people living
in counties that voted heavily for
Donald Trump during the last pres-
idential election have been nearly
three times as likely to die from
COVID-19 as those who live in
areas that went for now-President
Biden. That’s according to a new
analysis by NPR that examines how
political polarization and misin-
formation are driving a signifi cant
share of the deaths in the pandemic.
The trend was robust, even
when controlling for age, which is
the primary demographic risk of
COVID-19 mortality. The data also
reveal a major contributing factor to
the death rate diff erence: The higher
the vote share for Trump, the lower
the vaccination rate.
The analysis looked at only the
geographic location of COVID-19
deaths. The exact political views
of each person taken by the dis-
ease remains unknowable. But the
strength of the association, com-
bined with polling information
about vaccination, strongly suggests
that Republicans are being dispro-
portionately aff ected.
Misinformation appears to be a
major factor in the lagging vaccina-
tion rates. The Kaiser Family Foun-
dation’s polling shows Republicans
are far more likely to believe false
statements about COVID-19 and
vaccines. A full 94% of Republi-
cans think one or more false state-
ments about COVID-19 and vac-
cines might be true, and 46%
believe four or more statements
might be true. By contrast, only
14% of Democrats believe four or
more false statements about the
disease.
The full report can be found on
NPR.org.
Dan and Jan Blair
Joseph
Elk are fortunate to
have economic value
“The Elk Arrive” (The Observer,
Dec. 16) provides information
about 10 local elk feeding stations
operated by Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife. Elk are fed
to keep them out of ranchers’ hay-
stacks. Many ranchers graze cattle
on public lands in summer while
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their lower private land grows hay.
As noted, elk are highly adapted
to survive winters by pawing
through snow to grasses. But when
cows eat the grass, elk are forced
into the valleys and will quite natu-
rally eat from haystacks. To prevent
that, elk numbers are controlled
through various hunting programs.
The sale of elk tags is lucrative for
ODFW. Thus government feeding
stations, paid for by tax dollars, are
run to benefi t ranchers and ODFW.
Elk are fortunate to have economic
value for ODFW.
When wolves kill or harass
livestock all hell breaks loose.
Ranchers howl and get reim-
bursed. ODFW condemns repeat
off enders to death. After all, there’s
no money in wolves. In an unreg-
ulated capitalist system only profi t
has value.
Respect for diverse species and
healthy ecosystems is not yet prior-
itized by most people, particularly
lawmakers taking funding from big
business. For that reason, basic eco-
systems are unraveling everywhere.
See Norm Cimon’s Other views
column “Cheatgrass will take over
Owyhee” (The Observer, Dec. 16).
There’s a steep price to be paid
for such bedrock ignorance and
greed. Worldwide news is chroni-
cling it today.
Mary McCracken
Island City
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