VACCINES: Not too late

COVID cases have risen dramatically in Kootenai County. It is clear the Delta variant has arrived, as it has in states where vaccination rates are low, new cases are very high and hospitalizations and deaths are increasing (FL, AL, TX, OK to name a few). Yet these states have higher vaccination rates than Kootenai County.

Seeing the impact among family and friends of the Delta variant over the past several weeks, vaccination rates have risen substantially in a number of those states: people have realized infections, hospitalizations and deaths are almost exclusively among unvaccinated folks.

We really need to step up, if not for ourselves, for elderly relatives, our kids too young to be vaccinated and for those with co-morbidities. Clearly, the vaccines work (see again who is hospitalized) and the fake news about problems with vaccines clearly shown to be just that: fake. We could have, and should have, been free of this terrible situation, but we can still get in front of it. Do the right thing!

MATTHEW AMES

Bayview