As a newsroom, we are closely watching as the number of positive COVID-19 cases go up all over the county, state and nation.
We will be watching, ready to report, until the end, whether we reach herd immunity or not, whether we have to go back home or not, whether we transition classes back online or not.
University of Idaho President Scott Green and others in the university’s administration have repeatedly encouraged students to get the vaccine, and The Argonaut is on the same page.
The incentives were a fantastic move by UI to encourage students to get the vaccine, particularly those students who were undecided and on the fence. Granted, there could have been better and swifter distribution of detailed information about the incentive program, but it is a good effort nonetheless.
The political environment in Idaho has been incredibly tense throughout the pandemic, and UI made the right move to do all they can to encourage the vaccine while the state blocks their ability to require it.
Rallies and protests against masks and vaccines have taken place all over the state. Mask burnings, marches, gatherings and even a gross display of misuse of political power by Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin which temporarily banned mask mandates in Idaho.
The threat of COVID-19, particularly the Delta variant, is looming and has the chance to become just as severe as the peak of the previous strain by the first of October, according to Division Administrator Mike Larson at Public Health – Idaho North Central District. There is so much more about this rapidly spreading variant that we don’t know.
But what we do know is alarming. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, what we know is that Delta is spreading much faster and hitting much harder than what we experienced previously.
We also know that vaccinated people are less likely to experience the severity of symptoms Delta has been reported having and seem to have a shorter time period with the chance of infecting others.
The widespread hesitancy to get the vaccine is understandable, especially with the amount of political pressure and misinformation in Idaho. But the vaccine is widely available to people 12 and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has recently been fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Millions have already received it without seeing unexpected side effects. Despite what people may see all over social media, where the number of breakthrough infections among vaccinated people seems abnormally high, these infections among vaccinated people are not common and will become less common after herd immunity is reached.
The vaccine is safe.
The vaccine is also free. The possibility of saving someone else’s life, your own life and keeping your community safe is free.
Just because we are college students, and most of us have tough immune systems and rapid recovery rates, doesn’t mean all of the Vandal community is the same. Staff, faculty, alumni and those who are immunocompromised, among many others who are related, are all a part of our community as well.
The more we stall reaching herd immunity, the more we are putting our communities at risk. We’re risking our education, jobs, families, friends and freedom.
Schools could close again, forcing students of all ages back online. Forcing them back to their homes, without social interaction and bonds we all need to stay sane.
Businesses could close again, taking away opportunities for owners, employees and consumers. Jobs could be lost, temporarily or forever, while unemployment and homelessness rates would skyrocket again.
Important life events like holiday gatherings, birthdays, weddings and funerals could become too unsafe to host.
The point is that the worst, suckiest, most terrible parts of the pandemic could come back with more force than it did before because many are still unvaccinated. And we don’t want anybody to go through that hell again.
Vandals, stay safe. Get vaccinated.
- Editorial Board