AN INVERNESSIAN IN AMERICA: Diane Knox, originally from Inverness, grapples with Covid, vaccinations and the death of two people due to the Coronavirus in her weekly column
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There’s a lot going on right now, writes Diane Knox.
I feel particularly fired up as I sit down to write this column.
But I do promise I’ll be bringing you happy news in the next few weeks.
Until then…
It’s been a sad couple of weeks. I know of two people who have lost loved ones due to Covid.
It’s devastating. It’s close to home and it hits you hard.
One girl gave birth to her perfect little daughter, and after a month-long battle with Covid passed away when her baby girl was only 17 days old. She also leaves a two-year-old son and fiancé.
A friend of my boyfriend’s lost his father at the weekend. He had worked as a police officer in Jacksonville Beach area for over 30 years and was a beloved part of the community.
He had recently retired and tragically fell victim to the virus.
Both families said that they were careful, took precautions, did their best to stay safe during this global pandemic. It’s a stark reminder that this isn’t over.
I don’t know if they were vaccinated or not.
I am vaccinated – I’ve talked about it openly here – and have been since the first day I was eligible to get it. I wanted to feel safer, more protected and take steps towards normal life again. But I’m also pro-choice and believe people can decide to do whatever they feel is best.
However, you can’t hear such emotional, harrowing tales of Covid-related deaths and not hope making the decision to be vaccinated will prevent this from happening to your loved ones.
In the past week, I read about an athlete/media personality losing an endorsement deal over their “outspoken opinions” on the vaccine. Or against the vaccine, I should say. I think the party line was that their “views didn’t align” or something fluffy and vague like that.
I’m getting to the stage where I’m just logging off more and more, staying off my social accounts, muting the people who feel they have to constantly express their opinion, even though nobody ever asked for it in the first place.
Broken commercial deals, ruined friendships, the fickle unfollowing on social media – it’s really all getting to be too much. I have friends who are anti-vax but their tone is so aggressive, so judgmental.
But the big news here on Monday this week was that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) granted full approval of the Pfizer vaccine.
This means the vaccine is the first to move beyond emergency-use status in the United States, and will no doubt result in a flurry of vaccine mandates across many sectors.
It’s already been announced that guidelines are being sent to all active duty service members mandating that they be vaccinated, and United Airlines have said all employees will now be required to show proof of vaccination within five weeks of this regulatory approval.
I said earlier that I am pro-choice, but I really hope that this is welcome news to anyone who had serious questions over the vaccine. I hope it provides some answers, and some reassurance.
People can get the vaccine and not divulge their choice to others; you don’t have to tell anyone!
I know it’s a contentious issue, but this is a leap in the right direction. And long may it continue.
