I am completely aggravated with the significant portion of the population who are refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The two prevailing reasons for this refusal are: (1) I do not trust that the vaccine is safe and (2) I do not want any level of government to interfere with my right to choose what I do or do not do for myself.
The first reason is completely bogus because there is no such thing as a perfectly safe vaccine, or for that matter, a perfectly safe drug of any kind. A small percentage of people have a bad reaction to penicillin, to aspirin, to ibuprofen, to acetaminophen, and to every other drug that has ever been given to patients, yet millions of people take prescribed or over-the-counter drugs every day without worrying that any individual will be the one in a million who has the bad reaction.
The second reason is ridiculous because we, as a society, comply with many rules that have been imposed by government for the safety of ourselves and others. These rules include wearing seat belts, not using a cellphone in a car, having flotation devices on boats, having a drivers license, and requiring children be vaccinated before attending school.
For those of us who are old enough to remember it, in the mid-1950s, without any prior announcement, when we arrived at school one day every student was lined up and given a Salk polio vaccine.
Its too bad that some of todays adults are so self-centered that they do not care about the harm they may cause to themselves or others. Every person should be required to be vaccinated against COVID and unless they comply they cannot renew a drivers license or get a passport or buy an airline ticket or attend any sporting event.
Kerry A. Musick
Blountville
School nutrition staff deserve our thanks
It has been over a year since the COVID pandemic hit and the schools in our state had to instantly pivot from in-person to virtual learning.
Thousands of children across Tennessee were in danger of losing access to the nutrition they rely on from school meals. Our school nutrition staff immediately stepped up, working day and night to figure out new systems of getting meals to students by meal drive-thru, pickup or drop-off, they made it happen.
Due to the crisis, even more families in our community are facing financial strain. In 2021, an alarming 1 in 6 kids could face hunger because of the pandemic. Yet, our school nutrition staff have been there, working tirelessly through the summer, through weekends, through holidays, to make sure kids in our state get the nutrition they need.
May 7 was School Lunch Hero Day, but every day we should say thank you to all the school nutrition staff across our state. You help guarantee kids are healthy and ready to learn and provide a constant in these challenging times. Your love and dedication for what you do and those you serve are noteworthy and extraordinary. Our gratitude cannot be overstated!
Marissa Spady
No Kid Hungry Tennessee
Concern for Patrick Henry tailwaters
Once known for the excellent fishing for big rainbow trout and brown trout, the Patrick Henry tailwaters are apparently in decline. What is the cause? Water quality, overharvest, lack of regulations (slot size limits). Other tailwaters in our region generate tremendous income opportunities from local and tourist anglers. Why not Patrick Henry?
Ronald Davidson
Colonial Heights
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