Dr. Thomas Lew is an assistant clinical professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. He penned an article in USA Today headed ‘COVID vaccines save lives. Get one, even if your own life isn’t back to normal overnight.’ We liked that. And especially his approach of taking a COVID vaccine for other people, even if we don’t believe we need it ourselves.
And Despite the Answers Not Being What We Want
Vaccine deniers have been peppering Thomas Lew with questions like ‘Can I get COVID after the shot?’ And ‘could I still pass the virus and need to wear a mask?’ His response is yes, yes and yes but that’s not justification for refusing a vaccine. It’s a deeper question than that.
This is because widespread vaccination is the only way to save lives, stop the pandemic and head back towards normalcy. Vaccines could help vulnerable people recover without occupying scarce space in intensive-care beds. Thomas Lew is also an attending physician at Stanford Health Care, and he has a few badly afflicted patients. He has been on the dark side of the pandemic and he knows the truth.
Reasons for Taking COVID Vaccine for Other People
Thomas Lew sees the world through eyes of a medical doctor. He and his colleagues hope they will never have to decide who lives, and who dies from the virus in hospital. The probability of passing the disease becomes progressively less, the more of us have the jab. And that translates into more available hospital beds, and more dedicated care.
Taking a COVID vaccine for other people means saving lives at the most fundamental level. It’s confirmation that yes, we do care deeply. Thomas Lew would like us to hold on to that thought when we see badly-informed messages on social media. That’s messages without an ounce of proof, but just rational enough to tug at our logic. And to wear away at our resolve.
Related
Accept the Vaccine on Offer Says Dr. Fauci
Human Behavior Bedevils COVID Predictions
Preview Image: COVID 19 Vaccination
