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SOMETIMES IT'S BEST
TO HAVE NO CHOICE |
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I had a problem. The City of San Francisco, in its infinite
wisdom, announced last week that all San Francisco restaurants can only
serve vaccinated customers, effective August 20th. The Health Order also
stated that all employees of restaurants must be fully vaccinated by
October 13th.
I happen to own a San Francisco restaurant and I had at least
one key employee who I knew wasn't vaccinated. I couldn't afford to lose
him, because in the current employment environment it would be difficult
to find a replacement. So off I went, determined to convince him of the
vaccine safety and armed with arguments that would have him running to the
nearest vaccination center.
"YOU'RE AFRAID OF NEEDLES!!!" I cried when he told
me why he hadn't been vaccinated. "You can't be serious!"
Oh, he was serious. This 6 foot 4 inch, 240 pound behemoth of
a man was petrified of a little needle. He'd rather die of Covid than get
pricked. Or at least take the chance of possibly dying.
My arguments were irrelevant. He had no conspiracy theories,
or mistrust of science. He just couldn't handle needles---simple as that.
I went back to the office and did a little research. An
estimated 25% of Americans suffer from Trypanophobia, the scientific term
for fear of needles. It's a recognized psychiatric condition that can
cause fainting and collapse.
I don't know anyone who likes needles, but most of us
tolerate them. According to Harvard Health, and they should know, the
average healthy person will get at least 165 needle sticks in their
lifetime. Trypanophobia sufferers won't like that statistic.
And then there's the constant showing on the television news
of needles going into arms. I've counted dozens of vivid shots in one
single newscast. Is that really necessary? Even I have trouble looking---I
can't imagine what it's like for Trypanophobics.
Harvard Health goes on to estimate that 16% of Americans
avoid vaccinations, including Covid-19 vaccines, because of their fear of
needles. I knew it was a problem, but I never realized it was such a huge
problem until I faced it with a key employee.
There's really only two solutions for people suffering from
this apparently debilitating condition. The first is to develop an oral
vaccine. I have fond memories of the sugar cube we swallowed in the early
1960's to ward off polio. Not only did it work, it tasted good. Can't do
much better than that.
An Israeli company, Oravax, is already beginning trials for
their oral Covid vaccine. But it will be years before it reaches the
United States and gains approval from the FDA, so that's not realistic for
a while.
The second option is the government forcing you, for the
common good, to find a way to overcome your phobia of needles, let alone
any conspiracy theories or mistrust of science you might be harboring. And
I have little doubt it's coming.
We've done it so many times in the past. Government mandated
vaccines have wiped out Smallpox and Polio completely in the United
States, and virtually wiped out Measles, Mumps and Rubella. All 50 states
(and yes, that includes Florida, Texas and Mississippi, miraculously) have
some sort of vaccine mandates.
When the FDA gives full approval (instead of the current
Emergency Use Authorization) to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which is
expected in the next month or so, certain states will begin to ramp up
mandatory vaccinations for Covid-19. And if things don't get better
quickly, more states will follow.
(A federal mandate is apparently unlikely. The courts ruled
long ago that it is a state issue, not a federal one. The military and
federal workers can be compelled to vaccinate, but not the general
public).
As is often the case, San Francisco jumped the gun with their
Health Order last week. I could have required mandatory vaccinations for
all employees in my company, but I've hesitated to do so. Now I have no
choice for the San Francisco restaurant, and that's just fine with me.
Want an example? I revisited my Trypanophobic employee a few
days later and he said he would get the vaccine. He obviously wasn't happy
about it, but he also had no choice if he wanted to keep his job.
We will beat this pandemic, but like Smallpox and Polio, it's
probably going to take a vaccine mandate. Not everyone will comply, but
I'll bet we get most of the Trypanophobics. And I'll be there to hold
their hands, in gratitude. |
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