Not one, but two studies have linked COVID-19 to the development of erectile dysfunction.
In one, called “Mask up to keep it up,” researchers found “the prevalence of ED … was significantly higher in the COVID [positive] group … . Logistic regression models confirmed a significant effect of COVID‐-19 on the development of ED, independently of other variables … .” They came to the conclusion “there is preliminary evidence in a real-‐life population of ED as a risk factor of developing COVID-‐19 and possibly occurring as a consequence of COVID-‐19.”
In laymen’s terms: Because of the overlap of underlying factors, having erectile dysfunction makes you more susceptible to COVID, and having COVID makes you more likely to experience erectile dysfunction.
So there’s one good reason to get your COVID-19 vaccine.
Here are some others: Eating in a restaurant, going to concerts and sporting events, shopping in retail stores and malls … and not having to wear a mask.
The CDC recently released guidance for all the things vaccinated people can do without a mask, and Gov. Jim Justice followed suit by announcing vaccinated individuals can forgo face coverings ahead of the June 20 total mask-mandate repeal. (Mind you, masks can still be required in private businesses and are still needed in health care settings.)
We’re all for rewarding vaccinated people for doing their part. However, we’re a little wary of the honor system in place. It depends on people to be honest about their vaccination status and to continue to wear masks. Unfortunately, there’s a large overlap between the people who aren’t vaccinated and people who won’t wear masks anyway.
We’re afraid that lifting mask mandates prematurely — and depending on the honor system, which is too easily abused — takes away some of the incentive to get vaccinated. Especially since too many people approach the issue of vaccination from the angle of “Well, I don’t need it because other people are getting it.”
Have you seen the movie Gladiator, with Russell Crowe? (Bear with us; we have a point.) In several scenes, the Roman soldiers stand shoulder to shoulder, so their shields, which are long enough to cover most of their body, create a nearly impenetrable wall. The COVID vaccine is like that shield.
Now imagine that only one out of every three soldiers had one of those shields. Or worse, show up without a shield but insist they are, in fact, carrying one. Not only are the unshielded soldiers in significantly more danger, but their lack of protection leaves the shielded ones more exposed as well. But if three-quarters or more of the soldiers had shields, they could create a formation that puts the few vulnerable soldiers in the center, offering them protection.
That’s what we’re attempting to do with herd immunity. But enough people (soldiers) have to get the vaccine (use a shield) for it to work. We need 70% of Americans — of the world, really — to get the COVID vaccine to reach herd immunity. Once we reach that threshold, life can return to almost-normal. (“Almost,” because some things are irrevocably changed.) Right now, only 37% of the nation is vaccinated, and with kids under 12 and a handful of adults medically unable to get their shots, that means everyone else needs to step up and bear a shield (get vaccinated) so we can protect everyone.
