Why is the Legislature a barrier to protection?
When I was 4 1/2 years old, I was supposed to die from polio. That's not hyperbole. My parents were called to come to the hospital and told "Your son is dying." Somehow I beat the odds and survived. Now we never hear about polio. In 1954 it was every parent's worst nightmare. Why the change? In 1956 scientists developed a successful vaccine. Not surprisingly, my parents had both me and my sister vaccinated as soon as the vaccine became available. Now you rarely hear of anyone having polio and the rare outbreaks are in people who aren't vaccinated.
For the past year we have contended with a disease far more contagious than polio, though perhaps not as deadly or debilitating. Polio not only killed but left many survivors paralyzed. The long-term effect on covid-19 survivors has yet to be determined. Arkansas' death toll from the virus has passed 6,000.
Covid-19 cases are again spiking, but spiking in those who refuse to get vaccinated. Unfortunately, many of the unvaccinated are minors and school is about to start. Our Legislature, in its infinite lack of wisdom, has decreed schools cannot require students to be vaccinated or wear masks. What possible reason is there for hamstringing schools in areas where infection is rampant from taking such a simple measure as requiring a mask? Even better, why not require vaccination? Schools already require vaccination against many common childhood diseases at registration. How is covid-19 different? I am just thankful I have no school-age children or grandchildren. I feel for those who do.
W. Marshall Prettyman
West Fork
More science won't make
a difference to doubters
Your July 24 edition included a front-page article that related how governors (including ours) are eager for full Food and Drug Administration approval of the coronavirus vaccines. Their belief is that vaccination rates will improve among those who doubt their safety.
Once again I believe Gov. Asa Hutchinson over-estimates the wisdom of his constituents.
My friends (and relatives) who find fault with the vaccines have found fault with everything related to covid-19. They were opposed to anything other than allowing nature to take its course. They opposed mask mandates, and many tried to convince the rest of us that masks themselves were unsafe and that we were all over-reacting. Touting the "experimental" nature of the vaccines was simply an argument, not an actual fear.
Your article references Sen. Andrew Brenner, who, citing "individual liberty," says, "Typical vaccines take about 10 years of trials and testing to know the side effects and everything." Hence, another argument against full approval surfaces. If lottery tickets, hunting and fishing licenses, human suffering, long-haul effects and the deaths of over 6,000 fellow Arkansans have motivated only one-third of us, full FDA approval is unlikely to make a difference at all, in my opinion.
Marc Muncy
Clarksville