During the past week the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been spreading like a Colorado wildfire. Many experts and the media are horrified. They harp on the those who have "failed" to get vaccinated, wear masks or maintain social distancing. Republicans are talking about Biden's failures to act. Whoa.. think about it.

First off no one has "failed" to get vaccinated, wear a mask, or maintain social distancing. Those who have chosen to skip the vaccinations have done so explicitly, not through failure to act. They may be saying (IMHO) that the slight risk of getting (and spreading) Covid-19 is less than the risk and hassle of getting the vaccination and any side effects. OK-fine, I think they are wrong, but whatever.

I hear experts and media spokespeople begin to move the goalposts... especially regarding vaccine effectiveness. When the vaccines first received emergency approval for adults and as the approvals have expanded (and in the case of Pfizer-Biontech have become full approval) the experts were touting their ability to prevent Covid-19 infections (efficacy). Now as there are more breakthrough cases, especially with Omicron, these same experts are now saying that the vaccinations weren't designed to prevent infection ... they were intended to prevent death and hospitalization of those infected. Wrong.. Wrong ... Wrong... As the virus has mutated the vaccines have beomce less effective at preventing infection (which is what they were approved for).

There is, howevetr, one goal that I have not heard changed or fudged. The goal has always been to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic. It may well become endemic in our lives like influenza is, but we should be working to decrease its spread and by a large factor.

In my view and even though this does not seem to be happening... It is... and is now happening more rapidly that it was a few months ago. As I have said before we will defeat the pandemic when new infections are at a very low level. That will happen when almost everyone (90% perhaps) has either built up an immunity to Covid-19 through vaccination, by surviving the disease, or lastly by dying.

Everyone being diagnosed with Covid-19 brings us one person closer to that goal. We can and will defeat the pandemic. So please either get the vaccination or get Covid. Remember - Get Tested, Get Sick, Get over it.