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OPINION

Kirschner: ‘The Shot’ is safe, effective; get one

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On March 4, 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave his first inaugural address. He said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself; nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror.” His comments are valid today.

The COVID-19 pandemic struck a year ago with devastating force around the world.

The only prevention was social distancing, masks and hand-washing.

In a medical success, vaccines were developed in an amazingly short time and are being administered in record numbers in the United States.

The vaccines are safe and effective!

 As rapidly, or more rapidly, than the vaccine development was the spread of conspiracy theories, pseudo-science and blatant lies.

The vaccines do not cause infertility and miscarriage. You cannot get COVID from the vaccine.

You will not get a microchip implanted in your arm when you get “The Shot.” Hank Aaron did not die from a reaction from The Shot.

There are no safe and inexpensive off-the-shelf drugs that cure COVID.

You should not trust the disinformation on the web being spread by Russia. I hope I’ve made my point without giving more examples of the conspiracy theories, pseudo-science and blatant lies populating the Web.

There will be side effects. That is a known fact about any medicine or medical procedure.

If aspirin was coming on the market today, it would have a hard time being approved because of many side effects. When the benefit far outweigh the risk, go with the benefit.

Take The Shot! It is safe and effective.

Leonard Kirschner, MD, MPH

Litchfield Park