I've watched a lot of movies about outbreaks of viruses and pandemics. These movies always have a similar plot. Someone gets sick and dies. Then whatever it is starts spreading. People go into a panic and the world goes into chaos as everyone tries to stay safe from whatever disease is spreading. The disease is usually the "bad guy" in these films.
In the end, someone usually discovers a vaccine or an antidote, and the movie ends as everyone is finally safe.
That always seemed like the logical way a worldwide or national outbreak would go. It made sense.
But boy was Hollywood wrong.
The coronavirus pandemic certainly started out similarly. At first we just heard reports of this virus in other parts of the world. Then there were some reports here in the U.S., then a few more, and before we knew it the world was shut down.
Now, it didn't descend into utter chaos quite like the movies, but some people did lose their minds. Do you remember the toilet paper shortages of the early days of the pandemic? I do. Grocery stores were ravaged, you couldn't find what you needed. You didn't even bother trying to find hand sanitizer, because it was sold out everywhere.
We suffered greatly because of the coronavirus. In many aspects, we lost a year of our lives. We lost sports, social gatherings, holidays, even in-person schooling. And those were the small sacrifices. Many people lost loved ones.
But then, as is always the case in the movies, a vaccine was developed. Then a couple were developed. Our happy ending was finally here.
That was, what, March of this year? It's now November. The movie should be over. We should be well past the end credits, but instead we're in the third act. Or the fifth act.
This movie is agonizingly long.
Hollywood made the mistake of assuming that we would all be so grateful to end an outbreak that we would line up for a vaccine. We would do what was best for ourselves and those around us. But for between 30-50% of the population, that hasn't been the case.
I've used this column multiple times since March to urge people to get vaccinated. And I realize I'm probably not changing any minds by doing so at this point. But I'm just so tired of dealing with wave after wave of this virus. I'm so tired of hearing about another person who has died as a result of COVID-19. And trust me, I keep hearing about it. I have family members and friends in the hospital right now who are dealing with the disease. And yet I still have other family members who refuse to get the vaccine.
I understand the concern. It seems like the vaccine was developed too quickly. It seems like we don't know enough about it. But there is plenty of evidence out there. There is plenty of documentation. The vaccine reduces your chance of getting sick, and almost guarantees you won't get deathly ill.
I'm tired of seeing people suffer.
Hollywood thought we would do the right thing in the face of a deadly pandemic. Truth is, Hollywood gets a lot wrong. But this is one time I wish they had been right.
Eric Young is the editor of the Huron Daily Tribune. He can be reached at eric.young@hearstnp.com.
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November 27, 2021 at 06:10PM
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Young: Hollywood got outbreaks wrong - Huron Daily Tribune
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