LETTER: Anti-vaccine fervor is fueled by ‘dodgy data and innuendo’

To Ozaukee Press:

The “critical thinkers” referred to in a letter to the editor in last week’s Ozaukee Press would not call any vaccine a “joke,” as the letter writer did, and it is tiring to read arguments against Covid-19 vaccination that lack facts and common sense. Asking questions about vaccines is valid. But those questions often devolve into conspiracy theorizing and claiming the vaccine effort was something that it wasn’t, using dodgy data and innuendo.

While Covid-19 vaccines were developed rapidly, all steps have been taken to ensure their safety and effectiveness.         The vaccines were developed using science that has been around for decades.
They went through all the required stages of clinical and are not experimental. Extensive testing and monitoring have shown that these vaccines are safe and effective.

The vaccines have received Federal Drug Administration approval and continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. They can keep people from getting and spreading the virus that causes Covid-19 and keep vaccinated people from getting seriously ill even if they do get infected.

Those who don’t want to be vaccinated for their own benefit should do it for those who cannot, particularly children under 12. I feel safer being vaccinated, but until my kids can be, I’ll continue to advocate for their health and wellbeing by supporting vaccine and mask mandates.

Some other food for thought: How long before Covid vaccine skepticism and anti-mandate fervor make the next logical jump to the other vaccines that have been mandated for many years?

Peter Vander Velden
Port Washington