EDITORIAL
WISE UP AND
WAKE UP
HOW TO REACH US
TIMESLEDGER | Q 12 NS.COM | OCT. 8 - OCT. 14, 2021
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In 1947, the feared smallpox epidemic was completely blunted, thanks to New Yorkers’ willingness to take a
vaccine. Today, more New Yorkers must be willing to get vaccinated in an effort to put an end to the COVID-19
pandemic. Photo via Getty Images
Faced with a sudden smallpox outbreak in March
1947, New York City quickly mobilized to prevent
a major pandemic that could have sickened and
killed thousands of people.
In roughly six weeks’ time, more than 5 million
New Yorkers received the smallpox vaccine. The feared
epidemic was completely blunted; by late April, the outbreak
had been declared over.
Compare that to today, where more than 5.3 million
New Yorkers are now fully vaccinated against
COVID-19. But this vaccination effort began in earnest
in mid-January; the vaccine was made available to all
people, 12 and older, in late May.
The city was starkly different back in 1947. Social
media did not exist, so misinformation didn’t spread
as rapidly and widely as it does now. Cable news channels
weren’t around, so loud talking heads didn’t have a
platform by which to indoctrinate the masses with lies
about the vaccine’s effectiveness.
The smallpox vaccine wasn’t looked upon through
a political eye. Democrats and Republicans alike acknowledged
the reality of the situation and rolled up
their sleeves together.
Would such wisdom prevail in our society today, we
could truly beat back COVID-19. Instead, the virus continues
to spread some 19 months into the health crisis,
and the areas of New York City where vaccination rates
are below average are now getting hit harder by the
virus. Brooklyn alone has 22 areas where vaccination
rates are under 60% that recorded more than 1,100 new
COVID-19 cases combined between Sept. 22-28 — and it
doesn’t need to be this way.
The vaccine is safe, and works. Yet a minority of
deniers seeks to keep the majority of New Yorkers in
danger of this disease — and are shamefully getting assistance
they don’t deserve.
Unions have sought legal intervention to stop city
vaccine mandates. Restaurants have filed lawsuits
seeking to stop mandatory vaccine checks of customers.
It’s enough to make a rational person bang their
heads against the wall. After 19 months of COVID-19,
when will they learn?
Forgive us for not feeling sorry for New Yorkers who
continue to bury their heads in the sand and deny, deny,
deny. But they now are the last obstacle standing in the
way of finally ending this pandemic, and moving on
with our lives.
It’s time for this stubborn lot to wise up, wake up and
rid themselves of their terminal inflexibility.
As grand knight, my officers and members of
St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus Council
#5911 in Douglaston would like to congratulate
Robert Brennan on his new assignment
as bishop of Queens/Brooklyn Diocese. May the
Lord guide your hand in your future endeavors.
We also would like to thank Bishop Nicholas
DiMarzio for his spiritual guidance and leadership
over these past 18 years. We hope he will be
blessed with a long and peaceful retirement.
On a personal note, I had met Bishop DiMarzio
on a number of occasions as chairman of the St.
Anastasia Blood drive by St. Anastasia Knights
of Columbus. I had found the bishop to be very
helpful, kind and possessed a strong need to help
those in need.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.,
Bellerose
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