A health care worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

A health care worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Getting vaccinated is the right choice

The vaccine question depends on whether you consider public health or individual health.

The vaccine question depends on whether you consider public health or individual health. For public health the value of vaccination wins every time. Vaccinating large populations of people will always prevent disease, save lives and money.

When it comes to individual health, the cost benefit analysis of vaccination is not as obvious. Because of advances in hygiene, sanitation, access to medical care and vaccination, we have reduced the rates of infectious disease and it’s deadly consequences. In developed countries, this makes the theoretical risk of vaccination seem less acceptable.

During a global pandemic however, there is no question that the danger of getting infected and dying, or developing a long-term disability, is far greater than the theoretical effects of the vaccination. In addition, the long-term impacts of COVID infection are unknown, and there are many examples of viral infections causing illness decades after the initial infection (polio, chicken pox, herpes, human papillomavirus, etc.).

The COVID vaccine is clean, simple, pure and Naturopathic. It is a speck of protein introduced into the body that allows the immune system to readily identify the faux “infected” cells and prepare to protect from future actual exposure. It contains no live cells, no toxic preservatives, no chemical adjuvants. And it is “digested” by the body’s enzymes within 8-10 hours; just long enough for the immune reaction to develop. The vaccine and the speed at which it became available is a miracle of science and an example of the brilliance of natural medicine and immunity.

Kristin Cox, ND,

Naturopathic Doctor

Juneau

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