Stop vaccine politics

An open letter to Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo:

On Friday, Dec. 9, the first newspaper article I read in the Sun Sentinel on returning from a month-long cruise from Bangkok to Sydney was about your demonization and denigration of the COVID vaccines.

My retired educator friends and I have lived in a cocoon, and thus avoided getting

COVID. However, I contracted it on the cruise. I spent five days in my cabin. For most of the first three days, I did not feel well, but the last two days I climbed the walls feeling well enough to get on with sightseeing and activities on the ship, which I did on Day Six and beyond.

I owe my quick, mild case to all the vaccines I had. At 75, I am the first in line whenever a new vaccine becomes available. The speed with which these vaccines became available is truly amazing. I am eternally grateful to Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden, and the thousands of scientists, researchers, and drug companies who worked so hard and efficiently to make these vaccines available.

Granted, some people have difficulty tolerating vaccines, but they are few compared to the millions like me who have had a mild case rather than being hospitalized or dead. Please consider realigning your position on the vaccines with the facts. As Gov. DeSantis said on July 21, 2021, “vaccines are saving lives.” As a citizen of Florida, I implore you and the DeSantis administration to align Florida’s position on vaccines with the world’s medical science communities of today, instead of playing politics.

Barbara Nunn, Coral Springs