Dear Editor:

The Boothbay Register’s column, “A puzzlement,” in Joe's Journal Aug. 26 was a thorough, thoughtful and gentle nudge to encourage all non-vaccinated resistors to reconsider getting their COVID shots. I want to add a few pointed comments from an old doctor to the “Ramblings from an old scribbler.”

I served for more than 50 years in healthcare and public health with dedicated selfless co-workers who all embraced and practiced daily our basic tenet of “do no harm.” I am saddened, appalled and at a total loss to comprehend any personal beliefs of vaccine-resistant first responders and healthcare workers that can possibly justify putting them at risk of acquiring the COVID virus and spreading it to their families, co-workers, patients and the community at large.

With few exceptions (those with medical contraindications), they defend their inaction by claiming they are exercising their personal freedom and liberties. I have not once heard them acknowledge that along with our freedoms and liberties come responsibilities to our families and communities. "I and me" has replaced "we and us" in their monologues. The "we and us" working together as responsible community members getting our vaccinations is what helped us conquer polio, smallpox, measles and other debilitating and potentially lethal infectious diseases. As a result of our past collective commitment to each other we have healthier families and communities today.

All medically eligible first responders and healthcare workers should get their COVID vaccinations, leading by example for all of us to embrace “do no harm” as the guiding tenet that can end this largely preventable public health disaster.

Robert McArtor, MD

Boothbay Harbor