A4
THE ASTORIAN • THuRSdAy, ApRIl 22, 2021
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
publisher
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Editor
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OUR VIEW
Bring everyone along on COVID safety
W
ith coronavirus vaccina-
tion appointments now
open for all adults, it’s
easy to see that by this summer or fall
the nation will reach a point when
most responsible grown-ups will be
protected. But some significant frac-
tion will hold out for some reason.
Vaccine reluctance or refusal will
become annoying in a hurry.
To stop the spread of the increas-
ingly infectious virus and begin cut-
ting off its ability to mutate inside
patients, we really need for some-
thing like 80% or more of the popu-
lation to be inoculated. If we fall very
much short of 80%, we’ll continue
having outbreaks here and there,
with each new viral burst bringing
with it the possibility of a return to
the bad old days of 2020.
Why would anyone choose to
remain vulnerable to a deadly and
debilitating illness, and at the same
time expose their loved ones and
community to the same risk?
Some have obviously watched
too many horror movies in which a
well-intentioned therapy goes hor-
ribly awry. Others have legitimate
concerns rooted in personal health
vulnerabilities, or in memories of
old public health missteps, or myths
about autism. It’s certainly true that
medical interventions don’t always
go according to plan, and no one
wants to be among those who per-
sonally encounter some unsuspected
side effect.
And some are still in the thrall of
conspiracy theorists who thought the
pandemic was a political ploy that
would just disappear the day after the
presidential election.
Thankfully, most rational peo-
ple will continue to note the ongo-
ing lack of serious reactions to the
vaccines. Thus far, these vaccines
continue to be among the great suc-
cess stories of our time. There is no
indication of trouble on the horizon
Shafkat Anowar/AP Photo
Coronavirus outbreaks in the Midwest illustrate the importance of getting as many Americans vaccinated as quickly as possible. These
people waited in line for their shots in Chicago.
when it comes to safety. The adverse
reactions that have been reported —
things like a rash near injection sites
that some call “COVID arm” —
probably indicate a healthy immune
response to the shot, and certainly
are minor in comparison to the
peace of mind that comes with being
immunized.
Although there are those who sug-
gest vaccine rejectors are their own
worst punishment, for their good
and ours it makes sense to try to
bring everyone along on the path to
COVID recovery. If you’re read-
ing this and fear the vaccine more
than the disease, please reach out to
the county health department or your
own health provider to obtain trusted
advice.
To convince at least some of
those who are adamant in refusing to
believe COVID is serious, it’s up to
family members, pastors, local polit-
ical leaders, business owners, social
clubs and everyone else with a voice
to continue urging vaccinations. Not
everyone will be persuadable. But if
reluctance comes down to just fear-
ing needles or something similar,
persistent nudges from all of us may
be what it takes to save individual
lives and put this horrible episode
mostly behind us.
We may never entirely conquer
COVID. It’s entirely possible it will
become something like seasonal
influenza, require annual booster
shots and nevertheless kill thou-
sands of Americans each year. Even
this would be a big improvement
over the past year, and the new vac-
cine technology kick-started by the
Trump administration can quickly
adjust to changes in the virus.
It will also become increasingly
necessary for the U.S. to assist other
nations in becoming fully vacci-
nated. It would be both foolish and
inhumane to permit the virus to cir-
culate in less developed countries,
thereby sowing the seeds for a future
disaster.
There is a brightening light at the
end of this long, tedious, scary tun-
nel. The local, regional and national
economies are coming back to life.
It’s essential for us to stay on track
and make sure as many as possible
are around to celebrate.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Looking back
R
ecently, I saw the movie “Nomadland,”
then read the pictured article in The Ore-
gonian. I felt a little of the old fire left in me.
In the late 1960s, I worked as a school
counselor in a small town, Boerne, near San
Antonio, Texas — a great place to raise five
kids (later six).
In the early 1970s, I worked as a rehabil-
itation counselor in San Antonio. We saved,
bought a Volkswagen van on time, and after
receiving permission to pull the kids out
of school, traveled across Mexico for two
weeks.
We had a portable stove and other basics.
The children were excited and we all pulled
together. I feel I laid a lot of work on my
eldest son, then 15, and my wife, a nurse,
who did my wanderings with approval, work
and love.
Our relatives on both sides were conser-
vative folk. I think they thought we were liv-
ing in an unstable manner. We did, however,
survive this and other outings.
I look back on these vagabond years, and
the adventures, as some of the happiest times
of my life. We had little money, but good
professional jobs. We wanted to live in the
times, and contribute something to the world
in that changing era.
Today, the Mexico trip is one of the life
experiences the kids remember with joy.
NORM HOOGE
Astoria
A piece of the problem
A
round 50 years ago, the U.S. went
through a gasoline shortage. It is the rea-
son for some of the laws we follow. The 55
mph speed limit is just one example.
The public was told that the the Orga-
nization of the Petroleum Exporting Coun-
tries (OPEC) was responsible for the higher
prices.
I have been hearing a spot on the radio
telling the public to say something if you see
something that is not right. Why is the whole
country, or at least Oregon, paying more per
gallon due to the issues of primarily Tex-
as-area oil companies’ maintenance of prof-
its? Why don’t the board members of these
greedy companies have to take a loss, like
you or I have to?
As a general contractor, if my truck stops
working, I can’t charge my customers for
another truck to finish the job I was hired to
do, so why do they?
I do understand the economics of supply
and demand.
The problem, as I see it, is that most
American citizens worry where the deci-
mal point is in their budget, while very few
are concerning themselves about how many
commas are in theirs.
We can make noise about this inequity
besides not buying fuel. Write, call, text and
email any and all of our elected officials, and
let them know we have had enough.
TROY J. HASKELL
Astoria
Not expendable
I
f the Seaside school board feels it is
not safe enough to hold its meetings in
public and prefers, instead, to meet virtu-
ally, then I say they shouldn’t be demand-
ing that the schools be open for in-person
attendance.
Or maybe the board should get a lit-
tle outside of their comfort zone (sound
familiar?) and return to public meetings.
What’s sauce for the goose should be
sauce for the gander, don’t you think?
If the Oregon Department of Education
thinks it safe enough for our children to
attend school in person, why are they still
conducting all of their business remotely
and not returning to the expensive office
buildings we taxpayers fund for their busi-
ness purposes?
Our children are not expendable. Nei-
ther are they guinea pigs. Don’t expect
them to do something you, yourself, are
unwilling and afraid to do. Either it’s safe,
or it isn’t. You can’t have it both ways.
So far, according to news reports, sev-
eral students and staff or volunteers at the
Seaside High School have tested positive
for the coronavirus. If you, the members
of the school board, think it is an accept-
able risk to place the health of our chil-
dren in harm’s way while you maintain a
safe virtual distance, then what I have to
say to each of you, personally, is some-
thing I can guarantee this publication will
never print.
BILL GRAFFIUS
Gearhart