Jen Solomon: When personal freedom infringes on the health of others – Salt Lake Tribune

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Annice Sterling, one of a group of ICU nurses from Northwell Health who will support ICU teams at Intermountain Healthcare in Utah, expresses her thanks at a news conference in Murray on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. Last April, Intermountain deployed two COVID-19 Response Teams totaling 100 caregivers to assist New York City-area hospitals during that states major surge of COVID-19 cases. Those hospitals planned to return the favor when their surge subsided, which it now has.

By Jen Solomon | Special to The Tribune

| Aug. 20, 2021, 7:00 p.m.

What is the magic number where everyone takes COVID-19 seriously? People remain undeterred by the statistics and wide-ranging consequences, unmoved by the repeated warnings and pleas from the medical community.

Doubters, unconvinced by studies illustrating both the efficacy and safety of the vaccine and mask-wearing, continue to proudly or complacently ignore both. Too many subscribe to conspiracy theories and misinformation from unreliable sources, placing trust anywhere but in the people whose expertise should be the only voices that matter: experts who have degrees and credentials and are created by years of formal education, study and hands-on experience, not hours of online research and anecdotal evidence.

As Americans, we value our personal freedoms. But at what point does ones freedom begin to infringe on those of others, especially when it comes to health? It takes incredible selfishness to tout personal freedom as being more important than the highest good of the community. Shouldnt the basic right to live come first?

Cooperating with a public mask mandate includes minor inconvenience, discomfort and pride-swallowing. I suppose theres also reconciling fears that this is just the beginning of a complete government takeover. (McCarthyism, anyone?)

Meanwhile, the worst-case scenario for inaction entails serious illness and death, as the Republican members of the Salt Lake County Council opted for in their decision to allow others freedom instead of optimizing safety for children like my 8-year-old son.

Lets take a quick look at American citizens past response to adversity. World War I saw voluntary rationing of food items that created a surplus to send to soldiers and starving Europeans. During World War II, our nation again banded together against a common enemy. 20 million victory gardens emerged, producing 40% of vegetables consumed. Rations were a part of everyday life. Women left their households, filling gaps in the workforce. Americans bought $185 billion in war bonds, averaging $2,000 per person in a time when the average income was $2,000 a year.

Today, many cant be inconvenienced enough to simply wear a mask in public places, protecting both themselves and others.

At polios peak in 1952, the virus killed over 3,000 children, infecting and paralyzing thousands more. Historys largest human medical trial was conducted by Jonas Salk, involving nearly 2 million children volunteered by their parents, resulting in the 1955 vaccine. (For reference, Pfizer and Moderna have 4,600 and 6,700 children enrolled in their vaccine studies, respectively.) In less than a year, vaccines were administered to 30 million children and cases were virtually halved.

Today, eight months into the vaccines availability, less than 60% of eligible Utahns are fully vaccinated and cases are again rising, in some places reaching previous peak numbers.

Its hard to ignore the results created when Americans were truly united. Where is that true patriotism now? Where are the proclamations of United We Stand, rather than USA chants in response to tantrums rewarded by the overturning of a mask mandate meant to protect children? Where is the true exemplification of Love thy Neighbor? Where is the display of real courage, not immature, oppositional behavior?

Every single one of us wants a return to normal life, and the solution is right in front of us. If you dont take the necessary precautions, you are responsible for the continued difficulties we all face, and whats more, your actions are essentially telling others that you just dont care if they get sick, live or die. I find it difficult to be kind and respectful to decisions that constitute the worst possible insult; this behavior doesnt deserve tolerance. You should be ashamed of your lack of compassion and disregard for life.

Benjamin Franklin, against his own inclinations, appeased his wifes fears and held off on having his 4-year-old son inoculated against smallpox, resulting in his sons death and the subsequent deterioration of his marriage.

In his autobiography, Franklin describes how he long regretted bitterly this mistake, stating: This I mention for the Sake of Parents, who omit that Operation on the Supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a Child died under it; my Example showing that the Regret may be the same either way, and that therefore the safer should be chosen.

Jen Solomon, Salt Lake City, is the mother of an 8-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl and has been a nurse at the University Hospital for 20 years, most of those in the intensive care unit.

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Jen Solomon: When personal freedom infringes on the health of others - Salt Lake Tribune