This letter is for those individuals who refuse to get vaccinated and/or resist wearing a mask. Our six year old grandson is ill with COVID because someone didn’t consider the consequences of their actions. Claims that rights are threatened (Washington had his troops vaccinated against smallpox at Valley Forge), or religious beliefs are violated (What 21st century belief system places personal opinions and views over protecting other human beings?), or have tied vaccinations and/or mask wearing to some political position, or media sources or political leaders deemed more reliable than that of science, are selfish.
Callous disregard for the consequences to fellow humans is the result of such actions. We hope that no member of your family experiences COVID because of these actions. We are rightfully saddened by the deaths of some 13 American armed services men and women in the evacuation of Afghanistan which many believe was the result of bad decisions. How about the nearly 700,000 Americans who have been lost to COVID? Or the millions hospitalized or requiring medical assistance? How many were the result of bad decisions by everyday Americans? Our 6 year old grandson deserves more, as does everyone else’s child or grandchild, including yours.
Vincent DeSanctis and Francine DeSanctis
Tilghman
Tilghman
JF Davis says
It is truly unconscionable to blame others for a disease that has been around for decades. And patented.
Blame the scientist who plays god with germs and biological substances. And the inconclusive testings.
I will not consent to become a test subject. I had Covid-19 last October 2020. I was part of the 99.98% survivors.
It is more than unfair for the younger generation to become sick and then need to rely on more ‘scientific cures’.
I will wear a mask as I determine it necessary. I am still capable of using common sense.
You are using a broad brush in your distaste for non Vaxxers.
Debora Lyman says
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏻 I agree and I find it very disconcerting that so many vaccinated people are getting the Clovid and fauci and crew blame unvaccinated people! Does this make any sense!
Also, the huge push for more shots, something stinks and as more people get covid after getting the 3rd shot should wake everyone up!
Herman R Espenhorst says
What are you tring to say?
Stephen Schaare says
But Herman, How do you really feel?
James Wilson says
Over 95% of those dying from covid are unvaccinated. Over 1,500 people died from covid yesterday. That means 1425 were unvaccinated. I find this very disconcerting.
The percentage of fully vaccinated getting covid is less than 1%. I do not understand how you can say that “so many vaccinated people are getting Covi9d.”
And please be accurate. 3rd shots have not yet been approved so no one in the U.S. is getting them … but I think Biden did and there may be a few others. And please learn the science about the need for a 3rd booster shot before you criticize them.
You may want to check the facts before you embarrass yourself again.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi James, Good reply, though I admit a cynicism regarding any information from the government. We are being fed daily lies and misinformation regarding the debacle of Afghanistan
I am unable to understand the ongoing presence of Anthony Fauci on my television. His countless contradictions have rendered him no longer relevant.
Carol Meredith says
Mr and Mrs DeSanctis, I am sorry that your grandson is sick with the covid virus. I hope he makes a full recovery soon. You have every right to be angry that some inconsiderate adult breathed their germs into your little boy’s body. This adult knew that if they had been vaccinated or had worn a mask then your grandchild probably would not have been infected. But this adult chose to risk a child’s health, and possibly his life, knowing he’s not protected from them. I am angry, too.
Marian Murphy says
I’m sorry your 6 yr old grandson is sick due to covid. Of course you couldn’t protect him with the vaccine because of his age. The two adults who responded defensively about their right not to vaccinate chose not to respond to a young child catching covid from their choice to take their own chance with the virus but which spreads to others. But I don’t think they will connect their choice with your grandson’s illness. That’s the world we live in now, unfortunately.
Eva M. Smorzaniuk, M.D. says
My best wishes for a full recovery go to the DeSanctis family. Unfortunately this recent wave of cases, and 95% of the recent deaths from COVID, are occurring largely in the unvaccinated. This 6 yo boy didn’t have the option of vaccination. Perhaps he and his family were relying on other adults to participate in the communal good at some level. The stubborn refusal of the non-vax people is not a fact based decision. Yes, this is a NOVEL virus and, therefore, the scientific community has been in high gear studying it with the purpose of containing it. The scientific studies thus far point to the FDA approved vaccines as the best weapon in our arsenal. I encourage people to get their information about COVID and the vaccine from the medical community and not the network news or social media communities. We are wallowing in way too much misinformation and it’s making people sick!
robin stricoff says
May your grandson have a speedy, good recovery. And may those around him be protected from the virus.
Let’s not forget the 648,957 Americans that have died from COVID and their families, loved ones and friends mourning their loss.
Sandy Kaufman says
Like so many polarizing topics these days, we need to find common ground for living together successfully. I’ve come to realize that many who refuse to be vaccinated also refuse to acknowledge the science that supports its success in protecting ourselves and each other.
My appeal to those who have alternative theories is to ask that they rethink their decision so that we can all have the freedom to host and attend family events, go to the movies, dine inside or out, attend school, keep our economy open, and make the personal choice to either wear masks or not. I don’t know of anyone – regardless of their belief in the science of the vaccine – who likes the restrictions that a pandemic creates for all of us. And before you say all those restrictions are just overblown, you need only follow the trends between virus spikes and hospitalizations to know that unchecked, this virus cripples our emergency health care and ICU systems.
Regardless of your theories on the topic, we can all enjoy greater freedoms if we reduce the likelihood of this virus mutating and spreading unchecked. After thousands worldwide have been vaccinated, there’s ample proof that for the vast majority, the risk posed by the vaccine itself is negligible. The reasons for vaccinating are many and varied, but regardless of the reason, the freedoms we all treasure are worthy of setting aside our differences and coming together for the common good.
Jeffrey Staley says
Thank you, I agree. Even the understandable desire to honor the 20th anniversary of of the 9/11 attack is questionable given the roughly 2100 lives lost But, how do we deal with the 630,000 lives lost to COVID-19. Are we saying those lives don’t matter because they were mostly elderly and minority? Will we honor those lives lost 300 times more than the 9/11 lives lost? Come on America, we can’t afford to keep making dumb decisions. We need to beat the delta variant by getting vaccinated, wearing masks and doing whatever our experts like Dr. Fauci tell us to do. Politicians are not virologists and we need to stop being confused by their
political BS.
HUgh (Jock) Beebe says
Thank you for backing up the unarguable fact that vaccinations have proven success with a powerful personal story revealing the essential flaw in vaccine denier’s behavior.
Bob Flower says
well said and thank you!
Kathleen Linehan says
Thank you Bob. We are all wishing the DeSanctis’ grandson a speedy recovery. Their well written and reasoned letter displays great common sense and a plea for America to come together as we have in times of crisis.
This discussion reminds me of a great quote “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.
Children today have the opportunity to be vaccinated and saved from about 20 formerly common and potentially lethal diseases.
The routinely recommended vaccinations prevent: tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, Hepatitis A and B,
Rubeola (measles), mumps, rubella (‘german’ measles), polio, shingles, haemophilus influenza b, Human papilloma virus, seasonal influenza and on…. That does not count the travel vaccines against yellow fever, encephalitis, anthrax. Many like tetanus, diphtheria and flu require regular ‘boosters.’
Now, with these vaccines, the USA has virtually eliminated measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, polio…
Look to our great patriot, George Washington who vaccinated his troops against small pox as he was losing nearly 90% of his soldiers to disease. Ben Franklin advocated for the same.
Why should COVID be any different? We can and must eliminate it with the use of the several vaccines which we luckily have in good supply.
We want our country, economy and lives back to normal. The solution is obvious, vaccines work–that is fact.
Rev Julie Hart says
Dear DeSanctis Family,
I’m so sorry for you all but especially your poor grandchild who has contracted this horrible virus. We have a 6 yr old grandson who just started public school today. The 4 yr old is in preschool. They can’t be vaccinated being so young. All they can do is wash hands and wear masks. And while that helps, we see that it is not enough.
Public Health is not about Constitutional rights. It doesn’t take much brain work to figure that out. I might have passed notes with girlfriends in HS Civics class, yet somehow we learned about what makes a Democracy work. It takes all of us working together to overcome adversity. At this time Democracy isn’t working.
I pray for our at risk children and those already infected. We really can do something about this. May your 6 yr old grandson soon recover to enjoy the love of his family.
Peace,
The Rev Julie Hart
Mary J. Cahall says
How do you know how and from “whom” your grandson developed covid? Unless you know precisely how he was infected, it is unfair to claim it came from a “callous and selfish” unvaccinated person. I sincerely hope he is completely well and should now have immunity in the future. Whose science do we believe? There are just as many who argue differently, but most of our media won’t report the differing opinions….Sadly. I believe the “media” is totally biased.
You just Proved my point!!