Dear Editor,
Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon said, “It is with a heavy heart that I…announce the ‘untimely death’ of our friend and colleague, Imran Khan, who served as Communications Director in the office of the Leader of the Opposition up to today.” Unfortunately, the popular Khan, just 43 years old, was not vaccinated. Blogger Matthew said, “Mr. Harmon, That is a well thought out comment…..why do you not make such a well thought out appeal to your supporters to get the vaccine?” Blogger “Ashton” said, “Why can’t the APNU/AFC come forward and state that it joins with the government for mandatory vaccination of all Guyanese. Many have fallen already and a lot of blame is at the feet of the opposition. All lives matter, and we have the responsibility to accept scientific evidence-based facts in relation to the vaccines. We must all demand Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon to come out and lead the APNU/AFC on this issue.” Mr. Harmon, what will it take for you to act in the national interest by encouraging your supporters to be vaccinated? Do you not care? Do you have Pharaoh’s hard heart?
There is another report of the popular Mr. CN Sharma battling too. Former PM Nagamootoo also lamented the death of his best buddy Imran. I say, “friends don’t let friends remain unvaccinated.” With Covid, you can be “here today, gone tomorrow.” Blogger “Borapork” said, While the vaccine is not a cure for the Covid-19 virus, it can offer relief from the serious effects of the disease by stimulating the creation of antibodies that in turn minimize debilitating damage to the health of the infected….Many are refusing the vaccine for various reasons mostly unscientific but mainly purely political. Many have begged for the vaccine as their oxygen levels dropped but it was too late. Don’t join the ‘too late’ club. Get your jab. Let the jab be part of your effort to remain alive….Rest in peace Mr. Khan.” The PNC, PNC unions who held protests and filed lawsuits against vaccination, some churches and other anti-vaxxers, must ask themselves if they are in any way culpable for influencing the unvaccinated to court suicide by refusing the vaccine. If they think they are “sticking it to the PPP,” they are seriously misguided. It’s your own people, friends and loved ones who are dying “unexpectedly,” “untimely,” and “unnecessarily.” Blogger Col123 said, “…Some folks are just wishing for the health care system to collapse…as if that will bring down the government!…”
COVID has made widows and orphans in many families. Many moms, dads, brothers, sisters, grandmas, grandpas have died, largely because most were not vaccinated. Breadwinners of homes were wiped out in the twinkling of an eye. Khan’s death – which was avoidable if he was vaccinated – is one of the over 150 that have occurred in September, the deadliest month since COVID hit Guyana. Infection rates have also been extremely high for September with 6,000 new infections. Our health facilities in our poor country are straining towards breaking point. Our Intensive Care Unit staff are tired. So you wonder how can our Guyanese people see and hear all these things and don’t learn a lesson. What more education do they need, Dr. Carpen? I find it hard to disagree with Howard Stern that the “unvaccinated” are idiots. My friend Suresh said, “Ignorance can be educated, and crazy can be medicated, but you can’t fix stupid.”
Former Minister Ms. Cathy Hughes and Dr. Somar from the “dead meat” party are to be commended for encouraging vaccinations. Mark DaCosta said, “… It is time for the kid-gloves to come off. It is time for vaccination to be made mandatory. It is time for all politicians to openly and clearly explain to their constituents the importance of being vaccinated. It is time for vaccine-refusers to be pointedly informed of the selfishness of their decision. It is time for Guyanese to get serious about this pandemic, and put a stop to a crisis that is entirely within our power to contain.” We have already lost almost 800 persons. Let’s all get vaccinated now! The rush to get the Sputnik second dose is commendable!
Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall