Dear Editor,

Forty-one percent? Really?

That’s the COVID-19 vaccination coverage of Thomas County, according to this newspaper on September 8. And Grady County only has 38%. The same edition of the paper tells us that of the 5,382 positive cases in Thomas County since the beginning of the pandemic, 222 of them have been in the past week. That’s 4% of an 18-month total in only a week. At that rate, Thomas County would have had almost 16,000 positive cases in the same 18 months.

Archbold also recorded 13 deaths in the last week, out of about 133 total for the pandemic. That’s 10% of the total since the beginning.

Only 41% for Thomas County and 38% for Grady County are vaccinated. Well over 90% of the cases, hospitalizations and deaths from delta are unvaccinated people. This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated and the unvaccinated are also the most likely ideologically to not wear masks. So what you like about the vaccine, but it will protect you far better than malaria medicine or bleach or horse or cow dewormer or any number of other “crackpot cures” that have emerged in the last 18 months.

By the way, lest there be much if any doubt, the 41% vaccinated to 59% unvaccinated represents the approximate political divide of Thomas County. I’m certain many conservatives have gotten vaccinated, and some liberals have not, but for the most part the numbers point to a hesitancy on the part of a large group segment of Thomas and Grady counties resisting not only the vaccination but also risking getting very sick and possibly dying by not taking it.

It’s free. It’s readily available at the hospital and many pharmacies. It doesn’t give you COVID (or anything else except a sore arm for some people). You would be protecting other people from catching it from you (something you aren’t doing now). Taking the vaccine will speed the time for general reopening of businesses and commerce. You, the unvaccinated person, are slowing down reopening and endangering all of us and for many people just because you thought it would be disloyal to participate in a program that actually works and has a scientific basis.

To the vaccine and COVID deniers, get a clue. You are contributing to the sickness and death. Get vaccinated. If something happens as a result, you can say, “I told you so,” but if nothing happens and you stay healthy (which you probably will), then the life you save could be your own.

Edward Marshall

Boston