A jab is a jab until It's not!

Sitting in my living room on this rainy afternoon, I find myself reflecting on human behavior as a nurse. Understanding it can be complex. When COVID vaccines became available to healthcare workers in November-December 2020, I felt relieved and fortunate to be among the first to receive them. Initially, it seemed like a blessing, but that feeling shifted when some colleagues resisted the new vaccine due to its novelty and uncertainties, resulting in job losses. While I respect personal choices, we had a moral obligation to save lives and set an example. Many healthcare providers before us have faced similar challenges with new vaccines during pandemics.

Today, new weight loss drugs have quickly become the most sought-after medication, especially among those previously hesitant about addressing the global COVID crisis. Despite their popularity, these weight loss medications are still in the early stages, with largely unknown side effects. My question is: when does an injection become superior to human understanding, given that both jabs are accepted by many for weight loss? Since 2021, the obesity rate among U.S. adults is about 40.3%, with many feeling powerless using traditional weight loss methods. People are willing to pay out of pocket for the drug and are unconcerned about the weekly injection. I fully support health in any form; I just need to understand why weight loss is so widely accepted as an individual issue, whereas COVID-19 was a global concern, especially from our fellow colleagues in science.

It is thought-provoking to witness the acceptance of weekly GLP-1 agonist hormone injections for weight loss compared to the four COVID vaccine jabs in 2021 and the ongoing yearly vaccinations. This acceptance, particularly from colleagues and the general public who initially viewed the vaccine's newness negatively, makes me question human behavior.

My perspective is to focus on getting healthy, caring for one another, protecting each other, and continuing to show kindness to all humanity. I'm not judging anyone; I simply had a realization while enjoying some green tea.