#BTColumn- Don’t lose COVID-19 war to propaganda

The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

In delivering this column I have always resisted the urge to put a personal or intimate slant on my comments.

However, an event occurred recently in the United Kingdom which has served to rupture my thoughts. It has in essence impelled me to change a well-worn habit as I record the deaths of a married couple whom I have known for over 50 years. They died within seven days of each other, the victims of the dreaded COVID-19 disease.

Taken in isolation the deaths might be seen as another statistic but what to me is a more relevant aspect is the manner of those deaths.

The couple, under the guidance and advice of their son, strongly objected to the taking the vaccine even though scientific evidence has shown that the vaccine weakens the link between serious illness – deaths and COVID-19.
The whole episode saddens and perhaps makes me angry that lives have been ended, who knows, perhaps prematurely on the basis of unfounded and unproven information.

The son, together with many like him who advise from on high combined, do not have the knowledge on the subject that, when written would fill the back of a postage stamp.

It is a nonsense that these ‘experts’ continue to pour scorn on the methods being promoted through the use of the vaccine as honest effort which is being made to protect the lives of innocent and vulnerable people.

These ‘table-top scientists’ use the flimsy and well-worn cliché that it is a matter of their human rights to refuse the vaccine and also to know of its contents. Their reasons are sadly as boring as a cart road in the middle of a cane field.

Yes, of course we must respect the rights of individuals, but is it not ironic that the couple who lived in London and refused the vaccine now have no rights at all because sadly they are now dead. One might argue that because of the advice of their son they exercised their human rights.

Sometimes I wonder if the protestors even stop to read the news or seek to devise a cure to assist in the fight against COVID-19. I fancy they have not or if so, they are keeping it to themselves so that later they can spring it on us and claim a victory. I do wish they will make haste and save us from their posturing.

What perplexes is that people who you once assumed were intelligent are now at the forefront in delivering the nonsense and unfounded theories that, if followed through, will further threaten the stability of one’s health and serve to hinder any progress to the return of normalcy in our lives.

In the UK recent figures show that there is still great reluctance by Black people who are not prepared to take the vaccine. It is now a tiresome exercise to try to get to the bottom of this conundrum.

It appears that the authorities, having expended great effort and money to convince Black people to take the vaccine have given up and perhaps see our refusal as something endemic in our genes or way of life.

The figures show that Black people in every age group have the lowest vaccination rate although the hesitancy is on the decrease. It should also be noted that across the board the hesitancy among Black people is five times greater when compared with White adults.

So, where do we go from here? Can we afford to let antivaxxers shout and scream their baseless claims or do we call them out and ask that they bring credible and proven alternatives to the table in pursuit of a remedy for COVID- 19? This is not a case that a vociferous minority should win.

Propaganda over the years has been known to overwhelm the facts on many occasions. It has also been said that it has won wars. This war against COVID-19 is one that should not yield to propaganda.

Vincent “Boo” Nurse is a Barbadian living in London who is a retired land Revenue Manager, Pensions and Investment Adviser. He is passionate about the development of his island home and disapora.