Many of us have a tiny scar on our deltoid area. We don’t recall the event as we were infants or children, but I can say without a doubt it was the most effective worldwide campaign that wiped out a deadly virus for generations to come. Have you ever met someone who had small pox? Many of us do recall lining up in the school gym. After years of innoculations, we would the receive polio boosters through sugar cubes. The polio virus isn’t even on the radar for our children and grandchildren now. Thank you Dr. Jonas Salk, University of Pittsburgh who tried them on his own family first!

Terry was in the office for a check up this week, a few years out from her chemo and radiation. She would prefer to avoid toxins voluntarily. When diagnosed with cancer,  after natural remedies didn’t work, she gave into the therapies that saved her life. “I don’t know about this whole covid vaccine.” She is testing me. Terry is fortunate to not have suffered all the devastating childhood diseases because brilliant discoveries came along and ameliorated them. Even the cancer benefited from dramatic improvements over the past years with immunotherapies.

My reaction is swift and final. “Terry, no one will beg you to get vaccinated. It will be your decision. My advice is simple. When you are offered a vaccine, you should get in line gladly. Do not be passed over. The entire world needs this, so no one has time for the few who think they should just wait and see what happens”. Even physicians are discussing this. A consensus is growing. Line up and get the first offered. It is such an ambituous project that to sit by waiting for some undefined improvements is irrational.

As with the flu shot-which I hope you by now have had, the coronavirus vaccine will help you to survive and avoid the really devastating events this monster can create in the body. It may allow you to have milder symptoms, if not avoiding it completely. It may ultimately be required for travel and maybe even in-person work. I must have a sticker on my name tag that I had the flu shot before I can enter the hospital. We ask patients all the time a list of protections they have received: Pap tests, prostate screening, mammograms, childhood vaccinations, flu shots. Because these impact your wellbeing for life.

This blog is about living well. The reason the warp speed has worked is because money was spent, bureaucracy pushed aside (remember when at first the cdc required every test go to the cdc and be double checked?) The vaccines haven’t been tested in hundreds or even thousands, but in tens of thousands and deemed effective- amazingly so, and safe.

We all want freedom of choice and this will be yours. I can only offer best current advice. We’ve been preparing for this for years. we’ve stood in line at Disney for a few minutes of “fun”. It will be worth your time to que up and say thank you very much as soon as you are offered a chance to protect yourself. We will return to normalcy. Therapeutices are still required and we expect them to treat other viruses which are sure to come. The real warp speed is happening in managing diseases. The little scar on my shoulder tells me to take nothing for granted and that we all have a responsibility to help protect the world and avoid irrational stubbornness. We have sacrificed enough this year but can move forward in strength.

If you have had cancer, be sure that you follow with your doctor so that you can be considered in a high risk category to be vaccinated sooner than later. The government is controlling everything- work, play, worship, every engagement. There may  even be limits on what you can freely do without being vaccinated,  such as school or travel. Lets be smart and safe together.

This is blog 100! which started almost two years ago. Thanks for reading.