Please. Now is the time to reconsider and step up.

Please?

With illness rising, we’re at a crucial point as far as our chance to return to normal in our battle against COVID. And now children are also in danger from the brutal and highly contagious Delta variant. The virus needs hosts to continue to multiply; the not-yet-vaccinated are welcoming hosts. The more the virus lives among us, the more it multiplies and spreads.

We can turn this around, but to do so requires a significantly higher vaccination rate in our city, our state, and in our country, or the virus will continue to multiply and spread, creating a huge barrier to returning to normal.

Like the spread of a forest fire, the availability of ready fuel fans the spread.

For those who are still concerned about the medical risks, remembering all of the risks you readily accept every week to live your life fully may be some help: driving, crossing the street, lifting groceries, shoveling snow, and climbing ladders are risks we readily accept to achieve a goal.

Not to mention the risk of COVID.

For others, whatever the reason, vaccination can be seen as an act of patriotism, of willingness in taking a step aimed at protecting family and friends, an act of courage taken in spite of objections or doubts.

What if the experts are right and this will do the trick, and vaccination will help us return to normal?

Please?

James Cogan, Lewiston