We are getting it in November. We are getting it in January 2021. Everyone will have it by April.
These are all things Americans have been told over the last few months about when they are getting a vaccine for COVID-19. Scientists and doctors all over the world are working tirelessly to come up with an effective, and that is the key word here, vaccine to help everyone safely get back to the way life was before the pandemic.
No vaccine has ever been 100% effective. At best, it’s 70%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seventy percent is still pretty good odds though, do not get me wrong, but it is important for people to know that in general, hopes do not get too high.
I would love for there to be an effective and safe vaccine in November. It would be great, but part of me believes that it is wishful thinking. November is only two months away.
Yes, while a vaccine has been in development since this pandemic started, vaccines do not seem like an easy thing to develop safely and quickly. A vaccine coming out in November seems like it could be rushed. It is also convenient timing with 2020 being an election year and Nov. 3 being election day.
Distributing the vaccine to a good amount of the American population also takes time. When the vaccine comes out, there is not going to be an overnight effect to where people can go back to pre-pandemic life. Also, there is going to be a good amount of the American people who will refuse to take the vaccine. That headache of an argument is going to come up when the vaccine becomes available. It is a shame that this vaccine is going to become a political topic. Then again, it is America. When has not something deeply divided the country and become political?
I am not saying you should not be cautious about this vaccine, because you should. This is a new virus and it is going to be a new vaccine so it is OK if one feels that way. I am probably going to feel cautious too when the vaccine arrives. However, the people who think this vaccine is the government microchipping people or infecting them with another disease or whatever vaccine conspiracy theory they believe in need to put that aside and think of the greater good. And that greater good, is getting vaccinated for COVID-19 when it is safe to do so.
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