Four recent days of ADN headlines: Wednesday: “State’s largest hospital rationing care under crisis standards.” Thursday: “1,095 virus cases shatter daily record.” Friday: “Hospitals stresses as state hovers near pandemic highs.” Sunday: “Alaska’s inundated hospitals wrestle with impossible choices.” Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
The unvaccinated anti-mask people out there say, “You can’t tell me what to do. It’s my right to not get vaccinated and to not wear a mask.” Well, maybe technically that’s true. It’s also your right to own a handgun. But it’s definitely not your right to bring that handgun into my store, my restaurant, my office, my home, and to start shooting randomly at other people. Yet that’s exactly what you’re doing with your “anti” mindset.
I have a suggestion. If you continue to choose to not get vaccinated and not wear a mask, simply stay home. Do not go out. Do not put others at risk due to your selfishness. And, if — when? — you do get sick, continue to stay home. Deal with it. Do not come to the ER when you can no longer breathe. Do not take time and space away from those who really need the appropriate urgent medical care they deserve — the victims of heart attacks, strokes, gastrointestinal bleeds, broken hips, car crashes, etc. The list goes on and on.
Do not deprive others of the care they need because of your pigheadedness and self-righteousness. You can keep your gun at home and shoot yourself in the foot or head if you want to, but do not put me, my family, my friends and all of the other caring people of Anchorage who have done their part at risk. Just wear a mask and get vaccinated. It’s such an easy thing to do for the benefit of all!
— John Lapkass, M.D.
Anchorage
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