Recently on Stages, I read a lot of joking and questioning about whether to take the injection of the Covid-19 vaccine when it becomes widely available. All joking aside, in my humble opinion everyone should take it if they are not prevented from doing so because of their being exempt due to some specified allergic reaction. Why am I qualified to state my opinion?

Well, not to brag or boast, but I expect I have more pharmaceutical experience that anyone else on The Stages. I spent 16 years with Lederle Laboratories, a division of American Cyanamid Company. We made all sorts of immunizations: Small pox, mumps, Typhoid, Polio, Inluenza, Gamma Globulin, and lots of stuff I can’t even spell, as well as all the Venereal Disease testing products during and after WWII. I was privileged not only to be a salesman for years but was a staff member of the sales training department and led medical doctors and licensed pharmacists on tours of the entire plant, depending upon what they would like to see and learn about.

Did you know that in our separate building dedicated to influenza vaccine production, the workers in that facility never had to take a flu shot? The reason was the ambient air held enough of the virus, they were auto inoculated by simply breathing the air!

If you were to tour of any of Pfizer’s manufacturing plants today, you would probably be surprised at all the precautions taken to ensure purity and safety that is taken to insure pure, safe, and effective products are delivered. Also, the penalties and costs associated when any defect even thought to have happened by the many lawyers who are hungry for any possible liability case.

Our company along with the entire corporation was sold to Home Products Corp, which also owned Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and then Home Products Corp. was sold in its entirety to Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. I competed against Pfizer for those 16 years and they were and still are a formidable firm to compete against!

I and my wife will take the immunizations as soon as we can have them. We, being in our 80’s is much like the Stages membership. We cannot take any chance of contracting this deadly virus! Now, there may be some residual side effects, like some aches and pains for a day or two, but those are a small price to pay and prevent the virus and possible death.

If Pfizer makes it and the Food and Drug Administration approves it, I will accept it and so should you!!!!We are all too old to take the chance. Just Sayin...RJS

Right on Robert! The only short cut taken was around the bureaucracy of the federal swamp in Washington. What we need to navigate through Covid is wisdom not fear. The government lacks wisdom and instills fear. Allows Walmart to open but sees small business as non essential. Rest assured the owners and workers of small businesses see their business as very essential. Government wants to replace laws and law enforcement with feelings. Without enforcement there are no laws. Laws protect us—feelings are fickle and change like the weather. One day I’m in and the next day someone feels 70 year old men with beards should go.....and there’s no law to protect me..... Sorry about the rabbit trail.
To summarize yes I’m taking the vaccine because my chances are better vaccinated than not.