Whanganui letters: History gives us a good reason to be vaccinated

The unvaccinated are prime targets for Covid-19, writes one reader. Photo / File

We have circulating a virus called Covid-19 Delta variant, its sole purpose to make you sick, very sick or dead.

And if you survive you may end up with long Covid, which could damage your lungs or heart, among other conditions.

Not a particularly nice virus, but there is a vaccine to protect and negate the effects of this virus.

But we have people who do not want this vaccine, anti-vaxxers, and they advance many and varied reasons for their refusal.

It is their right. But in their refusal, there is irony.

Being unvaccinated, they are prime targets for the virus and as such will require medical treatment.

The irony, they refuse medical intervention to prevent the effects of the virus because they say they don't understand or believe in the medicine; yet should they contract the virus they want medicines they don't understand to heal them.

And being prime targets to get sick, the unvaccinated will take and deny resources that would have been utilised for those with other pressing medical conditions.

With the passage of time, we overlook events in history.

One hundred years ago the Spanish flu virus caused many deaths.

Its mode of transmission was similar to Covid 19. I'm sure any one of the 40 million to 80 million people (exact number unknown) who died from the virus would have wished for a vaccine.

Maybe history gives us a good reason to be vaccinated.

M SANDLANT
Whanganui

Shout Out for heroes

I've wanted to say an enormous thanks to the kind person who spotted my felted handbag that I left at Pak'nSave supermarket the other day. When I got home, that dreaded realisation flashed through my mind - no handbag with wallet, cards, phone, etc.

I rang the supermarket and with huge relief was told it had been left in the outside trolley bay and someone had handed it to customer service. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness!

I tend to think there are so many of us at times feeling overwhelmed with worries or clutter in our minds with Covid making complications for us.

Would the Chronicle consider setting up a Shout Out column, because I believe there are many people doing kind acts who we should acknowledge and in my case, I don't know the person, to thank.

This could be the first entry.

SUSAN SHAND
Whanganui

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