I’m writing in response to Katharina Jones (Letters, 2/17), who believes that anti-vaxxers have valid reasons for their stance and do not deserve the hostility aimed at them. Although an editorial note mostly debunked her arguments, I would point out that she also doesn’t understand the grave threat posed by COVID to the unvaccinated. There is no equivalent threat from being vaccinated.
Only a handful of deaths attributable to the J&J vaccine have been documented. Compare that with the millions killed by COVID globally. Then there are the millions with long COVID, the emerging evidence of organ damage from mild cases and the new variants that threaten us all.
My strong 83-year-old dad lived a clean, healthy life. From that, he drew the faulty conclusion that he was naturally immune and didn’t need to be vaccinated. His belief didn’t keep him from contracting COVID and dying by slow suffocation and eventual organ failure. Here’s a quote from him as he gasped for breath: “This is — unadulterated — hell.” My dad — my best friend — died before my eyes, because he underestimated how vicious and unrelenting COVID is.
Anyone reading this who is not fully vaccinated and boosted, please, please get it done. Don’t risk a horrible death like my dad’s or infecting someone else who dies from it. Your choice affects everyone around you. COVID doesn’t care about your pride and small conceits. It is merciless.
Leigh Rieder
Creswell
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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