Choices

As time has gone on, it does seem more and more apparent that the COVID-19 vaccines do aid in lessening the cases of the virus as well as lessening the effects of the virus, should you be one of the thousands of people becoming a breakthrough case.

That information aside, choosing to get the vaccine is still that: a choice. Just as it is a choice to get any other vaccination. Because getting vaccinated is a person’s choice, it is not something that should be mandated by a work place. Work places don’t mandate the flu shot for employees. They don’t mandate the vaccine for measles. Shit, many don’t even mandate drug testing. The vaccine for COVID-19 shouldn’t be any different.

I know many will argue about the severity of COVID versus the flu. They may have a point. But I will tell them about 2003, when I worked at an office of 500 employees. That’s the year the flu ran rampant through our office from January until April. It didn’t matter if you were vaccinated or not. I was and I got the flu so bad I was out of work for three weeks.

We all know COVID is a virus with a mind of its own. You could have a fully vaccinated office and you would still end up with COVID cases. So, yes, you still protect yourself but it’s really only as good as wearing a band-aid. Most of us know this by now.

So, yes, I can see why Biden’s mandate decision has been temporarily halted. Because how can you demand someone to do something that is really their choice? It’s almost as bad as Texas telling women they no longer have a choice to have an abortion. You’re pregnant and you don’t want the baby? Too bad. You work at company XYZ and there’s a crazy virus floating all over the world and we all wear facemasks day-in-and-day-out to protect ourselves but there’s also this vaccine that may or may not keep you from getting the virus. But because you work at company XYZ and the President is forcing us to have our employees vaccinated, you have to be vaccinated. Just, no.

People like choices. McDonald’s or Burger King? Chevy or Ford? Yale or Harvard? Patriots or Jets? (wait, that’s a choice?) If you take away their ability to choose something, you may as well take away their ability to breathe.

Not all choices are the best choices. Choosing to drink and drive? Bad. Choosing to rob a bank? Not good. Choosing to cheer on the Jets? To each their own. Choosing to not wear a facemask, whether required or not? Not the best choice. Choosing to not get vaccinated, when there’s a good chance it could prevent you from getting really sick if you got the virus? Again, not the best choice. But still, a choice. And one every person should be able to make on their own.