When a hospital conforms to recommendations laid forth by the CDC and AMA, it should be praised rather than castigated. IU Health Goshen Hospital decided to require influenza vaccinations for all employees, taking a necessary step to make itself a safer bastion of treatment and recovery. It was disappointing that several employees resisted the crucial change. Many myths abound regarding vaccination, and some in the health care field have unfortunately believed these lies.
Vaccines are a safe and effective means of preventing infectious disease and the morbidity and mortality that accompany it. It is important for the public to know that vaccines do not cause autism, the “flu shot” does not cause the flu, the”flu shot” is extremely safe and only rarely causes serious problems, and the “flu shot” prevents illness and death. Influenza vaccination protects against the three most common strains present and is typically 60 to 90 percent effective. Influenza usually kills between 3,000 and 49,000 people Americans annually, and between 50 to 100 million people worldwide in 1918-1919. The sick and elderly are most at risk, one reason it is essential all health care providers be immunized. There are no herbal remedies or vitamins which are truly effective at preventing the flu. Additionally, the major religions of today, including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, do not hold doctrines which denounce vaccination.
It is reckless and irresponsible for health care workers to remain unvaccinated. That a nurse or physician might spread preventable sickness to vulnerable patients is horrific. Vaccinations have saved countless lives since Edward Jenner developed the first smallpox vaccine in 1798, and it is because of vaccines that America has largely forgotten about the deadly world of infectious diseases. IU Health Goshen Hospital is thankfully staying on guard against infectious disease, and the entire Goshen community should as well.
— Martin Magers
Indianapolis
Letters to the Editor
Hospital deserves praise for vaccination policy
- Letters to the Editor
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Goshen should stick with ‘Redskins’
I must respond to the letter to the editor from Mr. Ron Chupp (The Goshen News, May 9). What’s in a name, Mr. Chupp? I too have a Native American heritage, and for some reason, I am not offended by the term Redskins, or brown skins or any other color of skins.
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More important issues than a nickname
I would like to, in the most respectful way possible, respond to Mr. Chupp’s letter (The Goshen News, May 9) regarding the ongoing debate over the term “Redskins” being used as the nickname and mascot for the Goshen school system.
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There is hope through God
May I share what happened to me after praying about the issue of whether to have guns carried by school authorities at Goshen High School. While calling out to God, my question was: Why have we as a nation come to trusting in government agencies, such as Homeland Security, rather than obeying the Constitution in what you have declared through our forefathers?
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Sheriff has this reader's support
This letter is in defense of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and in response to Shari Mellin’s letter (The Goshen News, May 8) about Sheriff Brad Rogers not obeying the laws related to anti-gun legislation
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‘Redskins’ nickname is offensive
The question posed (in the May 5 edition) was, “What’s in a Name?” In the case of the GHS (Redskins) mascot, it is insult, degradation, racism, and an ongoing slap-in-the face reminder of the disgusting manner in which my Native American ancestors were treated by Europeans.
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Millrace projects threaten a Goshen gem
The city of Goshen is in the 11th hour for the five Redevelopment Commission members to hear the voices of its residents concerning the millrace redevelopment proposals at its next meeting at 4 p.m. on May 14.
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We don’t need a community center
We want to keep this short and to the point. We keep reading articles and letters in the papers about the proposed community center in Goshen. Our question is why?
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Freedom-loving Americans want our country back
We are living in unprecedented times. The “America” of today is not the America that many of us grew up in.
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Sheriff should enforce all the laws
Elkhart County Sheriff Brad Rogers, speaking recently at a Republican Party rally, stated he would not enforce laws he views as “anti-gun legislation.”
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Terrorism watch list has loophole
In response to Lloyd Brubaker’s letter regarding gun rights (The Goshen News, Wednesday), I feel compelled to pass on the following news segment excerpt heard on NPR’s Morning Edition the same day:
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