How far back in time do we need to go to see a picture of my personal story of vaccination. It is interesting what one remembers about World War II. Dad was in Germany, or was it Belgium, probably both. Mum was at home juggling the coupons in the ration books, and I was playing with our white terrier dog — interestingly, I can’t remember that we ever went for a walk. Food was grown in the garden, and there was a milk and a butcher’s shop. I remember rabbits hanging from the ceiling, and the butcher saying that it was easier if the rabbits were alive when he skinned them, at least that’s what he told me. Later, the milk was delivered by a man wearing a blue and white apron that he wore in the shop, sometimes he had a battery-powered van … the milk was topped with cream in those days.
Vaccinations were commonplace then. Supposedly, there were good reasons for vaccination; measles, smallpox, polio — all with blunt needles, unlike today. Even when I joined the Royal Air Force it continued … there were more overseas appointments at that time.
Wow, have I digressed (again).
Later, when teaching in China (PRC) in 2002, there was an epidemic of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). There was very little panic — we were confined to campus for one week, and I don’t remember face masks. In fact, I had forgotten about it until CoviD-19 arrived in Canada.
My Covid-19 Theory
I have a theory. As someone who always takes advantage of the yearly influenza vaccination, I believe that each time the body’s immune system develops protection from disease, although a specific disease is the purpose of the vaccine, the immune system, to a lesser degree, can effect other diseases. Therefore, although the flu is a coronavirus-like disease, vaccination against it may have a protectional ability with the CoviD-19 disease. I don’t have access to the data, but it would interest me what percentage of those who died had a current flu vaccination — not to mention the overall health of the victim.
My theory becomes important when there is further examination of the vaccines — not the manufacturer, per se, but in comparison by disease. Specifically, in my experience, the flu vaccine. In 2020, my pharmacist said that he was giving me the 2019 vaccine because the 2020 variant had run out. This must, importantly, cause a question of immediate efficacy. Being healthy, it seemed to have been effective for me. BUT the flu virus is fairly stable in comparison to Covid-19. There are minor differences in the molecular composition of each vaccine, and these differences will become less in the future (An example of the expedited research and development). Nevertheless, already the virus has morphed into other forms that complicate efficacy (To be continued).
Therefore, face masks become part of long-term care … for everyone.
