Sounding off: Judging who should get vaccine priority

Regarding the letter “Smokers shouldn’t get vaccine priority” : I have also heard some say the obese, drug addicted and incarcerated should not get vaccine priority.

As long as people are judging who is deserving and who isn’t deserving vaccine priority, I ask, where in the vaccine priority should the following groups fall:

• People who refused to wear masks and social distance

• People who kept businesses open against health rules, and people who visited these restaurants knowing that the owners were not following protocols and regulations that the best epidemiologists explained repeatedly would save lives and get us out of this pandemic

• Those who traveled over the holidays and attended parties

• Those who repeatedly claimed this was a hoax and would disappear on Nov. 4, 2020

Should they get vaccine priority? Just asking.

Renalda Arndt, South Huntingdon

It’s time to correct minimum wage disparity

Letter-writer Jim Fontana Sr. (“Minimum wage questions,” ) asked readers to try to explain why raising the minimum wage could be proper. I am an 88-year-old retired accountant who spent over 40 years working with payrolls and employee benefits, and I would like to try.

First, I believe the American worker is a real bargain. Those of us who have enjoyed annual cost of living increases, including politicians, professionals, teachers and union workers, have kept up with inflation. On the other hand, productivity has gone up 400-500% over the years, and little of this has gone into our paychecks.

Second, my restaurant owners will hate me for this, but their prices have increased over the years more than sufficient to pay a more reasonable minimum wage. Over my lifetime, coffee has gone for 10 cents a cup to over $2.50 plus tax and tip. Hamburgers have gone from 25 cents to over $12 in some restaurants. All other items have gone up in like amounts.

Third, coffee and hamburgers are not going to make themselves. Any worker that management could eliminate has already been let go. Those of us who have enjoyed the fruits of our labor are not going to suddenly stop and make our own coffee and breakfast. Claiming that there will be major reductions in staffing is simply not true.

In summary, the minimum wage has not been raised in a decade and it is now time to correct the disparity.

Bob Reeping, Freeport

Vaccination distribution nightmare

My covid-19 vaccine experience was horrendous. It wasn’t the shot itself that caused me distress, but the events that led up to my vaccination.

As a health care student, I was sent numerous resources for how to sign up to receive a vaccination. It felt too good to be true that all I needed to do was provide my name and email and select two dates for my vaccination. As scheduled, I showed up at the site to receive my vaccination and got as far as having the nurse ask me which arm to use for the shot. I was seconds away from being vaccinated when a supervisor stopped the nurse and informed her that I couldn’t receive the vaccine at this location due to not being affiliated with the company. Before I could even process what was going on, I turned and watched my covid-19 vaccination card being torn up in front of my face and then was asked to leave the facility.

It is disgraceful that there have not been more health policies put into place to help with the administration of the covid-19 vaccination. I hope we can learn from the poor distribution of the first round of covid-19 vaccines and come up with the necessary improvements for when Phase 1B individuals can receive their dosages.

Laura Fahs, South Side

The writer is a doctor of occupational therapy student at the University of Pittsburgh.

Leaders must face consequences for lying

Let’s have a discussion on honesty. We should demand that our government not lie to us. Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon lied about the Vietnam War, and hundreds of thousands of people died. Ronald Reagan lied about Iran-Contra, and Central Americans died. George W. Bush lied about Iraq, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis died. Now, Donald Trump lied about covid-19, and hundreds of thousands died. This time they were U.S. citizens.

Enough. We must hold our elected officials accountable. It is not OK to lie to the American people. There must be serious consequences. A slap on the wrist will not do. Government officials must be truthful.

If we are to live up to the promise of our Founding Fathers, our representatives must be beyond reproach. Lying leads to tyranny, against which we must always be vigilant.

Michael Garing, North Huntingdon

Gov. Wolf’s only plan is asking for more money

The article “Pa.’s lagging vaccine rollout takes center stage in Harrisburg” stated “Pennsylvania is ranked tied for 39th among the 50 states in terms of the percentage of people who have received at least one dose of the vaccine.”

I wonder if our wonderful governor put as much effort into protecting us taxpayers as he does in trying to take more of our hard-earned money through tax scams, legalizing anything that he can make a buck on. He has proven since he was elected he has one plan and one plan only: Give me more money.

As a homeowner and having the responsibility for our family budget, it seems to me that I know what our governor doesn’t. There are two ways to balance a budget: One is to come up with more money; and the other way, which he never seems to even consider, is to spend less. When will we learn that this plan cannot continue?

Kenneth R. Nath, Saltsburg

Elderly prisoners in nursing homes

Our elderly in nursing homes are being held as prisoners. This is horrible.

It has been almost a year since we have been able to hold and touch our mother. She turned 92 in November and had to spend her birthday, as well as Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, by herself. We’ve only gotten to see her three times through a window and twice from a distance. She can’t use the phone that well. We hear her frail voice saying, “I can’t hear you. I love you, I miss you, I want to come home,” as we scream into the phone, “Mom, mom, I love you.” It’s heartbreaking.

I have written to congressman and commissioners, and all say the same thing: We’re going by the guidelines. They say this is best for the residents so they don’t get sick and die. Is it really? This is a slow, lingering death, with depression on both ends.

People have been isolated in their rooms for a year. Could you put up with this, not knowing if you will ever see your family again? Most of them are just giving up.

There has to be something we can do. Can’t they come up with a way that we can be with our loved ones? Employees come and go; why can’t relatives?

We need to get resolution. It’s already too late for some. I just pray that we can see our mother again while she still knows us and is still here.

Patty Lewis, South Greensburg

Vulnerable citizens deserve better

I cannot understand why the Phase 1A individuals cannot get their vaccinations at their local doctor’s office. Doctors already know patients’ ages and preexisting conditions. They can set up appointments for their most vulnerable patients much easier than what is currently being done. It’s absolutely ridiculous that senior citizens who may have limited access or aptitude concerning computers are forced to navigate the internet to get vaccinated.

In addition, I’ve read about and have encountered instances of patients developing blood clots after contracting covid-19. I’ve wondered why patients of a certain age aren’t at least guided to take aspirin or a blood thinner after getting covid. This could mean the difference between life and death.

It’s a shame our most vulnerable have been treated so poorly during this pandemic. They deserve much more from this state and the medical field.

Shaun Rinier, Penn Township, Westmoreland County