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Uriel Fox and the Vaccine Party

John Zurn

    In his travels, Uriel Fox often encountered injustice. Everywhere he sojourned, Uriel found people struggling with hunger and poverty. But he also discovered a large segment of the world that struggled with pride and vanity. So when he entered the city of Antipode, he felt disappointed but not surprised when he witnessed some citizens walking the streets seriously ill. They appeared to have crimson colored rashes on their feet and hands. These individuals also looked exhausted and in intense pain.
    However, still other citizens of Antipode appeared to be healthy and well rested. They pursued their daily lives as if the city had no health issues at all. Uriel observed both the suffering people and the healthy ones walking by each other without the least interest or sympathy. The longer he spent hiking through Antipode, the more distressed Uriel became, so he finally decided that he wanted to help in any way he could.
    After finding the city government signs, Uriel followed the city hall arrows to the mayor’s office. Since no executive assistant appeared to be available to help him, Uriel simply stepped into the mayor’s office. When he saw the mayor staring out the window, Uriel approached him directly. “Mr. Mayor, some of the people in your city seemed to be very ill while others seem healthy. What’s going on?”
    The mayor paused a moment and then replied, “Antipode suffers from a lethal epidemic. Most people don’t have enough money to pay for inoculations, so many will die.”
    “Are you saying that vaccines are too expensive?” Uriel asked pointedly. “Can’t the government offer to give the inoculations for free?”
    “For free?” the mayor answered in surprise. “The vaccines were free, but many people refused to take them. So then we charged a great deal of money for the medicine, so at least, some people would take the shot. Of course, then these rich people felt they were better than everyone else. Yet many individuals with no money now had to go without and they became ill. Still others didn’t become ill even without the injections.
    “At first, when we charged money for the shots, people demonstrated, but they also demonstrated when we required everyone to take the vaccinations for free. The demonstrations have now ended either because the protestors are too sick or because the people who have the money feel as if they are above the ones who can’t afford the vaccine. Now the wealthy don’t want to support ill.”
    ‘What if could raise the money? Then everyone would get the cure.” Uriel asked.
    The mayor frowned. “Some people won’t agree whether it’s free or very expensive. Worse, our scientists believe if the disease isn’t stopped by mass inoculations, it will continue to return. It has been my experience that people can be very distrustful and rarely feel happy. Self-importance and pride seem to be primary motivators.”
    “Nevertheless,” Uriel asserted, “I’ll find a way.” Uriel Fox left the mayor’s office feeling confident, and then he headed to the science research building. When he entered, he noticed another empty receptionist’s desk and entered the lab without being greeted. Inside the laboratory, however, it didn’t go as easily.
    A weary looking scientist in a faded lab coat pointed a shotgun at Uriel and demanded, “You’re trespassing. This is a restricted area! What do you want?”
    “I’ve come to find out why the vaccine is so expensive,” Uriel replied holding his ground, “and why only the rich appear to be the ones who get it.”
    The scientist remained nervous, but he answered Uriel’s question. “As I’m sure the mayor tried to express to you, the medications are not costly. Actually they’re not expensive at all. But we found that giving away the medications made people suspicious. If something was free, then people suspect something dubious was going on. By charging a great deal of money, many poor people felt they had been left out, and then they believed that they too deserved to get the shots. Meanwhile, people who buy the expensive inoculations often feel special and important. If the situation deteriorates again, however, the medicine will be free again, but suspicion and doubt are powerful reasons not to participate in the vaccination program.”
    “That sound bazaar,” Uriel blurted out.
    “Yes,” the scientist replied. “Now that so many people have become ill, the immunity of all citizens appears to be reduced. Maybe the people will at last be ready.”
    Uriel Fox left the lab not convinced that the scientist knew whether the virus would be defeated. As he surveyed the streets around him, he noticed more sick people than he had only days earlier. He could mentally project that the contagion could again surge at any time. Now Uriel needed to make a choice. He could remain in Antipode, get a vaccination and help the people who clearly were in trouble, or he could simply disappear from the city. In addition, he had no idea if he would get infected by staying. Despite his interviews with the mayor and the scientist, Uriel also knew that adults and children needed help. Even though their attitudes about the vaccine and its effects seem deeply rooted, their outlook could be deadly.
    Uriel suspected that the people of Antipode seemed to be too intelligent to be easily deceived mostly because of their strong distrust for authority. The best solution would clearly be a cure, but the second most logical solution would be a total vaccination of as my residents as possible. Finally, Uriel came up with an idea that he believed might work, but he would need to confer with the mayor first.
    When Uriel returned to the Mayor’s office, the door had been locked and seemed to be barricaded. But the mayor finally recognized Uriel calling, and let him into his office, and then, the mayor relocked the door. “Why are you so frightened?” Uriel asked with concern in his voice.
    “People have been threatening me, again,” the mayor whimpered. “They think I have some legal control over them. Like I told you before, people are rejecting my help. Before the medication was too expensive and unaffordable, and now because it’s going to be free again, many believe the vaccine has been altered in some way. But they don’t understand the virus could wipe us all out. Even those who are vaccinated won’t be immune forever.”
    “That’s why I’m here, Mr. Mayor,” Uriel answered a little too proudly. “I may have a solution. Can we dilute the medication by utilizing some water from the water tower?”
    “Are you serious?” the mayor replied in shock. “The people already think we’re tricking them. What if they find out?”
    “Then they better not find out,” Uriel replied convincingly. “If we do nothing, the epidemic could rage on for years!”
    “That much I understand,” the mayor responded. “But how do we accomplish such a task?”
    Uriel asserted, “I think we should throw a party for the entire city of Antipode. We’ll need a huge supply of ice cubes, for drinks, ice pops, and soda. We can take a small amount of fluid from the water tower and no one will miss it. We’ll administer the vaccine through the ice cubes.”
    “Won’t people still suspect,” the mayor complained. “People don’t trust authority already.”
    Uriel smiled, “Very few people can refuse free drinks. Besides, if we don’t wipe out the virus, it may soon overwhelm us. As an added incentive we can also include door prizes, food and music to entice people to come.”
    The mayor smiled. “This could work. But how do we make all this happen?”
    “Ask the scientist if he can create the vaccine ice cubes,” Uriel continued. “Everything else can be done in a committee including flyers and radio announcements.”
    “I’ll get started right now,” the mayor said enthusiastically.
    After a week of creating flyers, calling in radio ads, and getting all the supplies, everything was ready. Even the scientist surreptitiously created a mountain of vaccine ice cubes by using water already stored at the lab. Prizes were also collected, and the bar looked to be very well stocked.
    When the party finally began, it appeared to be a huge success. Nearly the whole town participated probably since free alcohol seemed to overcome everyone’s suspicions and inhibitions. It appeared as if Uriel’s party would produce the results he wanted.
    But as the party continued, several people became violently ill. Suspicion grew as a number of others became ill as well. Soon the entire party descended into chaos as people continued to get sick. When Uriel searched for the scientist, Uriel could see him fleeing up the road. Soon, several prominent citizens of Antipode cornered the mayor, and he lost control. “We tried to help. We didn’t understand the vaccine would make everyone sick. We believed the water would help deliver the vaccine.” Then the mayor pointed to Uriel. “It was all Uriel’s idea.”
    Uriel began to flee, and he felt certain the younger citizens were chasing after him. After crossing the mountains and barely escaping with his life, he sat down and had time to reflect. He understood that he had made matters worse back in Antipode. The vaccine party crystalized the doubt and distrust of Uriel, the Mayor and the vaccine. After the party experience, Uriel rightly understood that few would get vaccinated and the city could even perish. Unfortunately, Uriel Fox carried the memory and guilt of the party in his heart for a long time.
    However, Uriel couldn’t have known that it wasn’t the vaccine that made everyone ill. Instead, the water from the water tower, that had been stored at the lab, developed a powerful toxic virus. So in the end, the spread of the pestilence turned out to be everyone’s fault in some way or other. Regrettably, since Uriel Fox never found out the truth, he decided to mind his own business, and not attempt to help others in need. Luckily, this attitude was short-lived.

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