To the Editor
When vaccines were first becoming available, I sent an article that my son, Brian Bero Theyel, MD, PhD, wrote to the Waushara Argus. While he originally intended it for his colleagues at the hospital, he decided to submit it to the Argus in hopes that it would help people in his hometown more fully understand the benefits of the vaccine.
In the article he expressed why he chose to get the vaccine, how safe it was, and how effective it was at protecting him, his patients, his family, co-workers, and the community. Several months later, and after hundreds of millions of people have been safely vaccinated, he continues to express his amazement at the safety and effectiveness of this life-saving tool.
Over the past several weeks it has become apparent that the primary barrier to the United States achieving the ~70% vaccination rate necessary to quell this devastating virus is not vaccine supply, but rather the number of people who are electing to get the vaccine. Some of these concerns include people seeing something online telling them that the vaccine is going to cause infertility, that it reprograms your DNA, or that it is somehow worse than COVID-19. I asked Brian and his wife, Elizabeth Sullivan, MD (an OB/GYN) about these concerns.
Now, whenever anyone asks about if those of child bearing age and pregnant women should get the vaccine, I tell them what my daughter-in-law, an OBGyn doctor, advises and that is YES, YES, YES. There is absolutely no association between the vaccine and infertility. Brian also explained that the vaccines never enter your DNA, and that we are not at any risk of being ‘reprogrammed’ by the vaccines. He re-emphasizes how safe and effective the vaccines are, and how devastating COVID can be. He also wants folks who have had COVID to know that it is very important to get vaccinated because of the protection it gives you against the variants, and because it enhances and prolongs your immunity.
In Waushara county we have not yet achieved an over 70% vaccination rate even for the most vulnerable: those 65 and over. This hits home for me, because I coordinate the Community Last Saturday Lunches at St. Joseph’s parish, where we won’t be able to re-start these critical meals until that rate has been achieved. My hope is that readers come to understand that getting vaccinated is safe, effective, will help us safely reopen, and is just the right thing to do.
Hopeful for Herd Immunity,
Pat Bero
Coordinator of the Community Last Saturday Lunches
