Will we just have to “live” with Covid from now on? Seems that’s the way it was with the famous Spanish Flu. It peaked out back in 1918 after it had killed about 500 million people worldwide. To this day we have to take our annual flu shots since the old “flu” still lurks about. That seems to be the way this current Pandemic is working out. It may always lurk about.

Pandemics have been a part of human history forever. There was the Antonine Plague during the heyday of the Roman Empire. Back in the Middle Ages there was the so called “Black Death.” That was scary but then came along the Spanish flu of 1918. As though the outgoing Covid hasn’t been bad enough, now our National Director of Allergy’s and Infectious Disease — Dr. Faucci — tells us to look out. More Covid is on the way.

Of course, we are all very tired of Covid. I know I am. The stay at home work and the financial devastation this deadly virus has brought upon us has become unbearable. And while we all wish Covid could just be another historical bad memory — it ain’t. This deadly virus will be around like, forever. It’s an endemic. Like Spanish flu, it’s “gone” but not gone. We will always be taking flu shots for flu and they will hopefully protect us from Covid, too. But sometimes I wonder about “us.” Seems like we have collectively started back-biting our doctors and scientists by naming them as our enemies — not the virus.

Certain sections of our population have thrown in with the “ignore it and it will go away” crowd. In fact, they have tried to make Covid a political question. It’s like we can just decide to vote it out or If we can’t vote it out we can decide not to believe in it. In this crowd of virus infidels, a new party of politics has taken over. People of this belief don’t want to wear a face mask. In fact, if you try to encourage it, you are the enemy —someone to be despised and made fun of. Face masks suddenly are called “face diapers.” The whole idea of quarantine is said to be a part of a diabolical political plot to separate us from one another and hurt America.

Then there are the vaccines. The vaccines are suddenly described by this peculiar bunch as just a hateful device that the diabolical doctor Faucci has devised. This “evil” man has thrown in with the “evil” President and his henchmen (who wish to destroy America) in urging distrust of the shots. The shots, they claim, contain materials that can change your DNA. Markers are enclosed so that Biden (or someone) can track your moves — your thoughts — your location — influence your political thoughts.

Yes, surprisingly, some people believe this malarky which is important in that this is keeping a large portion of our population from taking the shot. Since that happened, the country was unable to get enough people vaccinated in time to control this outbreak. The Pandemic will now be with us forever, some experts predict. I hope this “anti-science” attitude doesn’t spread to include the shots that give our pediatric population protection for Mumps, Measles, and Chickenpox. It could happen. Better health is a voluntary experience on the part of an informed public.

One more thing: The Masks. I heard on the radio last week that masks do not work and cannot work. The Covid virus is too tiny. That’s not true, and here’s why it’s not. The virus travels on water droplets from our breath. The masks do stop these droplets. That’s why and how they work. Masks are safe to be worn. They are not “face diapers” but safety gadgets to help us stay free of this nasty virus. The price of this continued misinformation? Well, we have already seen the price tag. Death of loved ones, mass sickness and reduced quality of life for survivors. Like I said, let’s get rid of this “virus.”

By the way. It’s Easter. Be sure and go to your church. You’ll enjoy the experience.

Wayne Bullard, DPh cwaynebullard@gmail.com