By Victor C. Kirk
We all know now that the Oxford-AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine is purported to cause blood clots. A black eye for the science or maybe a plus for the science to have detected the flaw. All medicines have side effects even your basic aspirin. The difference however now is that a pandemic is underway, and trust is waning by not only persons of color, but a deep-seated belief by the followers of Donald Trump that it is not safe to take the vaccine and that the pandemic is a hoax, are fueling increasingly reticent comments against the administration of other vaccines approved in America. The issue now is what science will form the basis of the decision of the World Health Organization to continue to promote its use in Europe. Presently 40 individuals in Europe have been reported to have developed blood clots. To think that there is a belief that it’s ok, most of the other vaccines have reported this malady. Not so fast with the blind obedience suggestion!!!
For us as a community of color to feel safe with “the science” full disclosure must be maintained throughout the development of a chemical treatment of any biological contaminant. Just to know that a vaccine to address the world’s deadliest microscopic agent, could have a flaw after its distribution to and injection in millions across Europe brings chills to my spine and is troubling at a minimum. It has been reported that Germany halted distribution of the shots and France, Italy and Spain have joined that group of nations taking a pause from injecting the vaccine.
It’s not ok to say that any side effect is minor. I am troubled when I view the back of any medicine – WARNING do not take with diphenhydramine!! My goodness, this is the main reason I take the medication – Allergy relief. “WARNING – In case of an accidental overdose, call a doctor or a poison control center immediately – this is a warning for a Multivitamin with iron”. Chills, fever, sleep deprivation, do not take before dinner, do not take after dinner, do not take before breakfast, do not take when consuming alcohol, do not, do not, do not…
These are warnings for medicines we use for our everyday disorders and ailments. We can’t dismiss warnings; it can be fatal. So why should we give Oxford-AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine a pass? A blood clot can cause a heart attack, or a stroke, and even death. Can we take lightly the effects of this vaccine – not I. We must be cautious and internalize product warnings and have faith in the Center for Disease Control to always conduct a thorough scientific investigation of treatments for our health. Thank goodness it has not granted approval yet of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. But when it does, we must be assured that a rigorous scientific review has taken place. Politics aside, the truth must be shared – blood clots or not!
