ANDREW CUTLER
Publisher/Editor
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
ERICK PETERSON
Hermiston Editor/Senior Reporter
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021
A4
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
COVID-19
is going to
be with us
O
ur story recently on Andrew
Morris, a local man who
contracted COVID-19 even
after he was vaccinated, showed a
man who did everything right to
prevent an infection and who ended
up asking, “What did I do wrong?”
Morris, of course, didn’t do
anything wrong. The delta variant
of the COVID-19 virus is every-
where. And, despite the fact Morris
was one of the unlucky few to catch
the virus even after he was inocu-
lated, vaccinations still are the best
way to avoid an infection.
Statistics from the Umatilla
County Public Health Department
show roughly one of out of every 50
people hospitalized with COVID-
19 since January were vaccinated
against COVID-19. Thus, about
49 out of 50 hospitalizations in the
county this year were unvaccinated.
What that says is the protection
rate from COVID-19 vaccinations
remains very, very high. Are there
breakthrough cases? Of course.
Morris is a good example. But
Morris didn’t end up in a hospital.
He is ill, but his life isn’t in danger.
While we still believe the choice
to get vaccinated should be an indi-
vidual one, we also recognize that
so far, the vaccines have performed
as advertised.
The sad part of the entire vacci-
nation drama is how a misconcep-
tion — that somehow vaccines
would totally prevent infection
from COVID-19 — took root. Nine
months or so ago, the vaccines
were touted as a good answer to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Not enough attention, though,
was paid to the fact that while the
vaccines were important and a good
tool, they were not a silver bullet.
What the vaccines do for most
people is keep them free from the
virus. For some, who contract the
virus, the vaccine keeps them out of
the hospital.
That’s why vaccines are import-
ant. While you still may become
a breakthrough case, you’re most
likely not going to end up in a hospi-
tal in need of in-depth and serious
medical care. And breakthrough
cases remain — at least for now —
rare.
So far, according to the Oregon
Health Authority, more than 80%
of the COVID-19 cases in the state
were in people who were not vacci-
nated.
The old rules still apply today
when it comes to the COVID-19
virus and its variants. Avoid large
crowds, wear a mask and if you
choose to do so, get vaccinated.
COVID-19 is going to be with
us from now on. We will have to
learn to live it with — much like
we endure a flu season each year —
and continue to use commonsense
measures to avoid infection.
YOUR VIEWS
Wearing a mask does
not violate my personal
freedom
When I was a small child I had an
immunization on my arm for small-
pox. I think I got it at school. There
was no vaccination at the time for
measles, mumps, whooping cough
and I had all those diseases missing
school for two weeks for each.
Later, polio vaccine and the Salk
immunization came along and I got
them. I do not remember whether
my parents had to sign anything, but
I know they did not want me or my
siblings to contract polio. I have had
tetanus shots, diphtheria, shingles,
influenzas and a couple of others that
I cannot recall. I am happy to make it
to age 85.
When I had an opportunity to
receive the COVID-19 vaccinations,
I was grateful, because I did not want
to experience the virus. I did not
think about possibly spreading the
disease to others. I had been wear-
ing a mask to save myself, but now I
wear the mask to save others. I know
I could be a carrier even though I had
the vaccine.
My personal freedom has not been
violated by getting vaccines or by
wearing a mask. As an adult, I made
the choice to protect myself from
disease. My personal freedom is not
violated when I wear a mask, because
I do not want to be responsible for
someone else being sick.
Regardless of any requirement or
mandate, I do not wish to cause harm
to anyone else. I do not wish to cause
health professionals to serve until
exhaustion due to my disinterest in
their plight. I do not want children
to forfeit their education because the
pandemic continues indefinitely. I
do not wish to cause hospitals to fill
up with COVID-19 patients making
it impossible for people with other
health problems to have the care they
need.
Even though I am vaccinated for
COVID-19 and willing to wear a
mask, I want to be able to be admitted
to a hospital for treatment if I seri-
ously need treatment for illness or for
another face-plant injury in front of
the post office.
Evelyn Swart
Joseph
Please think of those
you care about, not just
yourself
Protesters demand freedom from
mask and vaccine mandates, claim-
ing personal choice. For most medical
decisions, I would agree.
However, the coronavirus is highly
contagious and the anti-vax commu-
nity chooses to ignore this fact. When
you become infected, OK fine, that
resulted from a personal choice not
to protect yourself. But then you will
likely infect a few more people — who
will it be? Someone you live with? A
child? Your co-worker? Someone you
sit behind in church? Someone in line
with you at the grocery?
I am mystified by your version of
choice, which could rob others of their
choice to remain healthy. Please think
of those you care about, not just your-
self.
By the way, Oregon and Wash-
ington have consistently been in the
top 10 states for lowest incidences of
coronavirus cases as a percentage of
population. Oregon is currently fifth
best. Our governors and their expert
advisers deserve credit.
Diane Alexander
Walla Walla
I am in charge of
my own health
This is America ... land of the free.
I have a right to vaccinate or not, wear
a mask or not. Because I don’t put on
a mask or won’t subject myself to an
unproven vaccine does not mean that
I’m a bad person, nor am I guilty of any
wrongdoing.
If someone is concerned about
getting COVID-19 or is compromised
in any way, they should wear a mask
(if masks work), social distance, get
vaccinated. Take care of yourself as
necessary for you. Don’t stipulate what
I should do.
I’m not responsible for the general
public’s health, nor are they responsible
for mine.
Yes, the hospitals get crowded. It’s
not necessarily the available beds,
but the fact that there’s not enough
staff. Once the vaccine mandate is
enforced, there is a good possibility
of a huge shortage of hospital care
staff. I stand behind those that choose
that route. No one should be forced
to take a vaccine as a requirement for
employment.
Our local economy has been devas-
tated with this mask mandate and social
distancing. Let the individual decide.
They can go into that business or not. It
is their choice. Don’t punish the busi-
nesses because they don’t mandate
mask wearing in their store: they should
not be “mask police.”
All we hear on the news is COVID,
COVID, COVID, supported by adver-
tising to get the vaccine. It’s odd to be
so inundated with “vaccine rah-rah-rah
advertising” when America’s COVID-
19 death toll is actually smaller than that
of heart disease or cancer deaths.
According to news reports, COVID-
19 has claimed approximately 600,000-
plus American lives. Of course, we need
to consider “presumed and confirmed”
COVID-19 deaths (cdc.gov).
“About 655,000 Americans die from
heart disease each year” (cancer.org).
“In 2020 there was 606,520 cancer
deaths in the United States.” In 2021
the estimated cancer deaths are 608,570
(aha.org).
Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. in
2020 was an estimated 93,331, including
69,710 involving opioids, according to
data released by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Am I supposed to interfere with
people’s lives to keep them from getting
heart disease? How about cancer?
Should I run roughshod over drug deal-
ers?
Nope. Everyone should take care of
themselves.
Regarding masking and the COVID-
19 vaccine … I am in charge of my
health — it’s my choice.
Lesley Neuman
Lostine