NAZIR: Appeal to the community

Published 2:15 pm Monday, June 7, 2021

I am writing this to encourage everyone in the community to get vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine.

I don’t have to over-emphasize the overwhelming loss of life we have suffered due to the virus, not to mention the lingering late effects of the virus in those who have survived the infection. I would like to dispel a few misconceptions about the vaccine. 

1. The COVID-19 vaccine cannot give a person a COVID-19 infection.
2. It is not experimental. We have enough evidence to prove that it works.
3. Vaccine approval wasn’t rushed through. With the present technology, new vaccines can be manufactured in months and not years as in the past. 
4. Side effects of the vaccine usually involve mild to moderate symptoms. Even the worse symptoms do not compare to the symptoms of the actual infections.
5. Blood clots have not been shown to be related to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Even with the Johnson & Johnson and Astra Zeneca vaccines, the risk is very minimal.

There are several benefits to being vaccinated.

1. Vaccination prevents severe infections, hospitalizations and death.
2. Vaccination prevents transmission to others.
3. Vaccination will allow people to return to normal (Jobs, visiting family, social events etc.).
4. If enough people get vaccinated, there will be less chance for the virus to mutate and create a serious outbreak. 

I urge everyone to get vaccinated, wear a mask and practice social distancing. We will get over this together.

Best wishes,  

Saqib Nazir, MD

Chief of Staff

Navicent Health Baldwin