I work as an “Ambulance Driver” (Paramedic) in a mid size city in the Midwest. I’ve been dealing with several issues that has kept everyone afraid to post on any social media as well as the massive forced overtime we have had in the last three months.
over the last four weeks these are the reasons I have been told why the person I’m transporting has not been vaccinated.
most common: (a three way tie — no I did not keep track but it’s about this)
It takes to much time. I can’t afford it. And I don’t do shots.
the it takes too much time (I just have not had the time) is slightly a head of the others. And that is just people not putting priority on getting it done. (But they have time to go to the bar)
The it costs too much is weird. I think it is because some places want your insurance to charge it, but they don’t charge you. I think that is not getting through. (Even if you did have to pay the co-pay it is far cheeper than the co-pay on an ambulance trip and ED stay)
The dislike of shots I get. Still adulting means doing things you don’t like.
Strangest: “the vaccine was developed in white male fetuses, and is designed to cause black women to become sterile and cause black men to develop cancer in the next six years”
This patient went in to refer me to several “FDA doctors who have been whistle blowing this on YouTube.” And that the CDC accidentally released this on their web page for one day.
Saddest: “my (spouse/family member) says Covid is not real and the shot will kill you”
The other adult got pissed at us for asking our Covid screening questions, and started ranting that they had been falsely accused of having Covid and were suing the Hospital for slander.
The most conspiracy based:
”The jab changes your DNA. Just enough to not qualify as human under the law. You become legal cattle, and the Constitution no longer applies because you’re not human any more. This way Biden can take your guns with out breaking the law!”
They then gave as proof of the change the lack of outrage over the Border Patrol horse incident compared to how huge it would be if Trump had been in charge. (I really wanted to say: “Ok, let’s make sure we have everything you need-cell phone, charger, tin foil hat?” But my inner adult prevented it. I do like my job)
I have encountered the “it’s 99.9% survival rate”; “there are other treatments that work but are suppressed”; “until it’s FDA approved/until the long term effects are known”; “it is experimental gene therapy”; and “the shot is worse than Covid/causes non-vaccinated to get it”
but not to the same rate as the most common. But they do show up as secondary reasons.
I don’t challenge them. I explain that what I’m seeing is not matching what they say. Or if they are open a quick explanation of how the immune system works. When a person is vaccinated, I tell them what a great choice they made and how I hope they urge their family and friends to get the jab.
there was a point between May and July that I went to only one or two Covid calls a week. A welcome change and hopeful. (And less forced OT!). Now I’m back to 3 to 5 Covid calls a shift.
what we saw last year till the winter was most Covid cases were 70+ or other serious health issues if younger (obesity and breathing issues most common).
Now it’s 35 to 55. And a fair number are not obese or history of breathing issues. (A majority are though).
in the last month I’ve taken in one vaccinated Covid call. They were being treated for stage three cancer and had a kidney transplant.
So, wash your hands. Get your jabs. Eat healthy and work out. Keep your distance in public places. And look both ways before crossing — even on one way streets.