“There is no vaccine against stupidity.” A. Einstein
But Covid vaccines, like long-awaited wishes, are on their way. They will be here any day (so we are told) and offered immediately for public consumption. But who will get them first, and more importantly, who wants to be first to get them?
For there are many doubters and deniers in this ragtag country of ours… Even though the effectiveness of vaccines has been well documented, some people (for mainly irrational reasons) still refuse to be vaccinated.
This situation is reminiscent of what happened in France in 1785. It was a year of bad harvests and people were starving and dying. They were told to eat the then little-known potatoes, but nobody would do it because it was thought to cause leprosy among other things. So, French pharmacist, Antoine-Augustin Parmentier concocted various plots to entice people to eat what he called Pommes de Terre (ground apples).
His most famous scheme was to start a potato patch and put armed guards around it. If you guard something reasoned some people, it has to be valuable. The same guards were intentionally withdrawn at night, allowing starving people to sneak into the patch and steal some potatoes. They cooked them, ate them, and liked them. The word quickly got around. It was good stuff, with no side effects. That year famine was avoided.
Celebrities were also enlisted to promote the humble potatoes, the Covid vaccines of that era. Today many personalities (particularly in England) have volunteered to lead the movement.
“Ron Wood, the 73-year-old Rolling Stones guitarist said, “It’s a blessing”, while fellow rocker, Who frontman, Roger Daltrey, aged 76, stated, “My generation avoided some of the worst diseases known to man thanks to being vaccinated when we were young. We owe it to the young to prove its safety”, and Scottish singer, Lulu, aged 72, “I cannot wait. I have no fears or qualms about it. I’m looking forward to being able to hug loved ones and get back to normal”.
Euroweeklynews.com
When the Covid vaccines will become available in our area, I will promptly march to the prescribed area and, with a stiff upper lip, I will offer my arm to be punctured. I am no hero… I simply believe in science and want to do my share to stop the spread of this terrible disease.
I also wish to be around a little longer… mainly to refine my pétanque skills and annoy my detractors.
Isn’t this the right spirit?
Alain