Though it sounds bizarre, there are people who are living through the pandemic completely unaware of it's existence. A 70-year-old man emerged from a cave in Pirot, Serbia.
Despite his rejection of modern society, he immediately got vaccinated without any hesitation.
Panta Petrovic made the decision to live on the outskirts of society 20 years ago in a mountain cave. Only last year he traveled into town and learned about the pandemic.
Petrovic said he's always loved nature and there's a certain freedom he experienced by living out there full time.
"I was not free in the city."
"There is always someone in your way—you either argue with your wife, neighbors, or the police."
"Here, nobody is hassling me."
His trips to town became more frequent since a pack of wolves got to some of his domestic animals he kept around the cave.
The coronavirus "does not pick," Serbian cave hermit Panta Petrovic said after he got immunized with a #COVID19 vaccine, urging everyone to do the same. "It will come here, to my cave, too."\n\nREAD: https://bit.ly/3jWCHGv\u00a0pic.twitter.com/KvsGxaGaxK— ABS-CBN News (@ABS-CBN News) 1629096300
He shared with APF News he "doesn't understand the fuss" when it comes to getting the vaccine.
Petrovic said:
"I want to get all 3 doses, including the extra one."
"I urge every citizen to get vaccinated, every single one of them."
He emphasized his belief in a process that aims to eradicate diseases.
Petrovic said the virus could even come to his cave in the forested Stara Planina Mountain.
"It does not pick."
"It will come here, to my cave, too."
Many people on Twitter hope the unvaccinated hear this mans' story so they too decide to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
This man literally lives in a cave as a hermit and understands the vaccine is important. But your aunt Karen doesn't get it??https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/serbian-cave-hermit-gets-covid-19-vaccine-urges-others-to-follow\u00a0\u2026— gee\u2077 belongs to the canyon now (they/them) (@gee\u2077 belongs to the canyon now (they/them)) 1628886569
Man *literally* lives under a rock and is still smarter and better-informed than half the American South. SMHhttps://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2021-08-13/Serbian-hermit-discovers-there-is-a-pandemic-gets-COVID-19-vaccine-12H72dc94Xe/index.html\u00a0\u2026— gardonkulous (@gardonkulous) 1629042512
This man who lives in a cave is more in touch with reality than half the US. Lets bring this guy out of the cave and send the other folk into the cave. The cave can be helpful.https://str.sg/3wBs— Ben (@Ben) 1628884583
This man is so pure! I know the point is he got the jab but I just want to wish him a long and happy life with his pet boar Mara in his Serbian cave!https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/serbian-cave-hermit-gets-covid-19-vaccine-urges-others-to-follow\u00a0\u2026— Angelica Oung (@Angelica Oung) 1629006163
screaming .... screaming\n\nwhat else would take for the anti-vaxxers to get the message— please get vaxxed \uea00 (@please get vaxxed \uea00) 1628885349
I mean\u2026pic.twitter.com/xg1EUh78tN— Michael Peroff (@Michael Peroff) 1628887249
Well then...since some dude who lives in a cave got it...lmao— ManilaMax (@ManilaMax) 1629096530
Hermits are wise men.— Jefrey Cercado (@Jefrey Cercado) 1629107520
I feel I need to find this man and learn his ways— Michael Colborne (@Michael Colborne) 1628886844
Before he decided to social distance for his lifestyle, he donated all his money to the community to fund the building of three bridges.
Petrovic explained:
"Money is cursed, it spoils people."
"I think nothing can corrupt a human like money."
Hopefully, this story encourages others to follow Petrovic's lead when it comes to public health.
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Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg