The Vaccine War

I haven’t wanted to weigh in on this national debate, because frankly I don’t have the energy for all the opposing views. I now feel compelled to share from the perspective of a family with an immune compromised child.

In an ideal world, we would have years to determine a vaccine was 100% fail proof (a standard which doesn’t actually exist). I was hesitant to get the vaccine. I didn’t feel it had been around “long enough”.

Unfortunately however, the virus has proven more adaptable than we as humans are. It has not allowed us the luxury of time to sit back and watch as the global death toll rises. This virus has infiltrated our societies and our homes. It has put us into instant lockdowns, as initially that was our only armour available to fight it. There was a race to develop a vaccine, and everyone held their breath to see if that light at the end of the tunnel was truly achievable.

Then, remarkably, we got there. Vaccines became available. And suddenly, like all contrary elements of human nature – people don’t want them. The freedom of choice now offered means many would rather take their chances with Covid.

I would wait hours in a queue if it meant I could vaccinate my young children. I would pay money I am lucky enough to have for the privilege to access the vaccine. I feel for our under-privileged global neighbours, who do not have such ready access to vaccines and are watching family members die in droves for lack of oxygen (think India). How elitist must we seem? To have access to a (free!) vaccine we willingly forgo – and preach to others to do likewise?

If you have never sat at the hospital bedside of a loved one on oxygen needing help to breathe, the threat of Covid may not feel very real. I can assure you it is a heart-breaking, heart-rending situation we have experienced multiple times – long before Covid existed – and would give anything to avoid.

Personally we have been in a form of medical lockdown for almost 2 years out of concern for our youngest son. He has fought through heart surgery, brain damage and multiple hospital presentations. 100 nights in hospital could have stemmed from something as simple as a cold, or the latest dreaded RSV virus. I got vaccinated early from Covid, despite my own hesitations, to protect HIM. (I will note that no, I have not since become the Tin Man with lots of metal clinging to my body. Shame really. I could have walked into a Level 2 jewellery store and made a fortune. Just kidding).

But I cannot protect him from hundreds of thousands of people who choose not to get vaccinated against Covid. Delta especially is insidious and will find its way throughout our society without herd immunity. I kept our son out of daycare, I stayed away from our closest friends, I rarely even let him visit outdoor playgrounds, libraries or the supermarket out of concern he would catch a virus that would send us to hospital again. That was long before Covid arrived. Covid is known to be a serious virus even if you are healthy. If, like my son, you have compromised immunity or pre-existing co-morbidities, you are reliant on the choices of others to help protect your life from a virus that would have serious (and hopefully not fatal) consequences. My son is a fighter. But there is only so much I can do.

By all means make your own (informed) choice when it comes to choosing whether to be vaccinated. But know that your choice – limits ours.