Some health advisors are fearing that our current pandemic of COVID-19 could continue on for several more years. That is if we keep on blundering in our fight against this virus like we have been. The hope has been for a combination of factors such as this new vaccine against the virus and hope this would get us to the point of no more COVID-19. Not so. Early results show a big flaw in our plans.

Lots of folk (40%) just will not take the vaccine. The anti-vaccination crowd has done a good job over the past years of turning an ignorant public against taking any kind of vaccines. These people fight (in their own eyes) a noble battle to save others from the harm, dangers and evils of vaccinations. Like I said. Sadly they are doing a good job.

It was disappointing to learn so many people are outright refusing the new vaccine. They express a fear of this lifesaving shot. Fear that it may have some sort of detrimental effect on them. Many have always refused the flu shots but enough have taken the shots in the past that to some degree the public itself is fairly well protected. But this COVID-19 is more deadly that our old flu as we have known it. The anti-vaccination crowd has persuaded enough parents to not participate in these routine school vaccinations that now some sections of our country are now having outbreaks of Measles. Will we see diphtheria too become a normal threat of life again? Mumps perhaps?

It is akin to the same mentality that causes people to endanger themselves and others by refusing to take common sense measures to take care of their own and others health. The old “I’m not afraid of this stuff” is heard often here in our part of Oklahoma. They feel it intrudes on their and others freedom to refuse a mask. The Corona virus is spread by person-to-person contact. The virus is carried on small water droplets containing virus (easily captured by a mask). Arguments against masks helping control this spreading of the virus are just bunko. You may win your argument (on Facebook), but this does nothing to help decrease the disease and deaths from corona.

On 9/11 the attacks on the trade towers in New York City killed 2,977 people in one day. Corona infections are killing 3,300 every day. After the attacks on New York this nation under President Bush’s leadership, pulled together, waged war and were successful in resolving that matter. There were no large numbers of people clamoring to ignore this attack. Nor to ignore the advice and leadership of our government. We here in Allen need to latch onto the Oklahoma Standard that was exhibited after the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City. There Governor Keating led us well. He never avoided his duties in showing us what we all should be doing in that hurtful time of crisis.

In the spirit of us holding onto the “Oklahoma Standard” I would hope that Governor Stitt could reverse himself on facemask policy. He has a moral need to do so. The health and future of our students and teachers cry out for help. I want to point out here that selected schools that saw to it that handwashing routines, masks and recommended spacing were enforced showed great results in containing Corona. Those tests were in South Carolina. I note now that Governor Stitt has announced he will be a candidate for a second term in two years. Will his handling of this Covid crisis insure he moves back to Tulsa? Only time will tell how much people remember of his hands-off handling of this COVID crisis.

I hope all of my readers are staying healthy. Remember, spring is not that far away. Hang onto your masks. Use them. Get your shots. Be sure and go to church Sunday if you can.

Wayne Bullard, DPh