Even as Butler Memorial Hospital and other health care providers prepare to accept delivery of the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, we find another huge split in the attitudes of Americans concerning the whole pandemic issue.

The country appears to be heavily split concerning whether to receive the shot or not. It has been 50 years since the nation faced anything similar to this and most of us can’t remember whether taking the polio vaccine was controversial or not.

Some of us recall the long processional line through the lobbies of schools to receive the precious cube of sugar with the dose of vaccine.

Were there any protesters outside holding signs and warning of possible side effects?

We haven’t found any evidence of that, but admittedly people are better informed and better educated today (internet geniuses excluded), so we should expect people to more closely examine and question it.

Some of the answers we would like to have include what happens if half the country refuses it?

Would that reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine for individuals who did take it because they will continue to encounter people who are carriers?

There is also a wider dis-trust factor among minority groups who have long worried that any medicines or vaccines could cause different reactions among a particular race.

It is reported that fatality rates are higher among minorities than Caucasians with COVID-19. One report this morning said that 42% of Black Americans said they would take a hard pass on the shot.

Even people in the medical field are mixed as to whether the rush to find this vaccine was too fast and that possibly more studies are necessary.

Yes, other vaccines took longer to be developed, but medical research has come a long way since the days of testing for the Salk polio vaccine.

Is it possible for any president or Congress to enforce a strict mandate on taking a COVID shot? There is a question that could keep the legal experts busy in court for longer than a presidential election.

You may or may not have made up your mind about whether you will jump in line to receive it. Some households are going to be split for certain. Hopefully, the split won’t be along party lines but instead true health concerns. You better start serious deliberation as to what you want to do. If you pass it could be months before you can get another opportunity. If you take it and it wasn’t quite “ripe” could it be worse?

We will be placing our trust in the medical experts and hoping it brings a sooner rather than later end to the chaos and ruination that 2020 has been. After that, we can only hope and pray. And, please wear your mask.

— RV