Archived Opinion

Many have questions
 about Covid vaccine

Many have questions
 about Covid vaccine

To the Editor: I’m writing a very heartfelt concern I have for the health and safety of all the people in our community. Many are influenced by the local news media from the reports made on important topics. Specifically, I’m referencing the piece in Issue 35, Jan. 25, 2023, Vol. 24. 

A full-page feature with misleading title reported on a recent commissioners meeting that involved the very sensitive and apparently hot topic of vaccines. I have a few questions that I hope can be addressed. 

(1) What was the point of this article? Was it to report to the uninformed public of the commissioners meeting regarding the grant being offered to the N.C. Division of Public Health? 

(2) Was it intended to discredit citizens with valid questions and to keep the many people out here in the community polarized and therefore confused as ever about this issue? 

(3) Was it to discourage vaccine hesitancy by citing a bunch of unrelated and alleged conspiracies and use this to insult the citizens who stepped forth on behalf of many people who do have questions? 

In any case, I failed to see any point unless the objective was to demonstrate how politically motivated this important issue is which doesn’t solve anything.   

Is it possible to objectively review all the data currently available, that we, the public, might benefit from? With a confirmation bias present as was demonstrated in the article, any real science with investigative research to support journalism cannot be achieved with any good outcome unless we can neutralize opinions and drop the bias. 

The community could be better served if only they understood this very complex situation both locally and nationally, more fully. The cascade of evidence that is available is quite compelling and credible. This subject deserves an in-depth investigation — not the marginalization of anyone with valid health concerns. 

I am happy to provide all the evidence necessary with request that this too, be made public. 

Diannah Beauregard 

Haywood County 

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