I recall back in 2003 when New York City prohibited smoking in public areas like bars, restaurants, and workplaces. At that time, I was living and working in the city, and the uproar was immense. Lighting a cigarette in a dimly lit NYC bar while enjoying a drink was seen as an integral part of the city’s culture. Many asserted that their freedom—indeed, their very lifestyle—was being ripped away from them.
However, that argument was flawed. Instead, what transpired was a safer environment for all. Secondhand smoke is lethal, and while you might be indifferent to the personal health risks of smoking, doing so in public endangers others. Does that sound familiar?
Over the past 18 months, discussions about personal freedom have surged. The freedom to disregard lockdown and social distancing measures. The freedom to forgo wearing masks. The freedom to decline the vaccine. These arguments suggest that individuals can do whatever they desire with their bodies because this is America, where personal rights take precedence over everything else.
But the argument for personal freedom only holds when it doesn’t endanger others. In the context of a pandemic that spreads through respiratory droplets, your personal choices can significantly—and sometimes fatally—affect those around you. Now that the COVID-19 vaccine has received full approval from the FDA, and various mandates are being introduced across workplaces, schools, military, and entertainment venues, expect to hear the “personal freedom/my rights are being violated” rhetoric more than ever.
It’s time to put an end to this misguided thinking. If you choose not to get vaccinated, you’re accepting the risks that come with the virus and asserting that no one can dictate what you should or shouldn’t put into your body. That’s your prerogative. However, when it comes to public health, your decisions impact others (hence the term “public health”). If you opt out of getting vaccinated, you should be prepared to forgo participation in certain activities and be ineligible for specific job opportunities.
This isn’t a new concept. Vaccine mandates have existed at state and local levels for a long time, and what we’re witnessing now is simply a continuation of that trend.
In essence, vaccine mandates are entirely legal. While there is no federal mandate, as noted by Scientific American, it’s improbable that such a mandate will come to fruition. However, we do have state, local, and business-specific vaccine requirements that have been in place for years. Historical Supreme Court rulings from 1905 and 1922 empower states to enforce such mandates. This precedent is unlikely to change.
Schools have mandated vaccinations for children for decades. Many healthcare facilities and businesses have required vaccines like the flu shot. The military has long enforced vaccination requirements as well. Some countries even prohibit entry without proof of certain vaccinations, like the yellow fever vaccine.
“But,” the freedom-loving vaccine skeptics might argue, “mandating vaccination to access work, restaurants, movies, and gyms is a violation of human rights.”
Not quite. Human rights pertain to safeguarding individuals from torture, ensuring access to shelter, clean water, and food. Human rights violations involve severe inequalities and injustices worldwide. Being asked to receive a vaccine (which is not being forcibly administered) does not equate to a violation of human rights. Let’s refrain from trivializing the term when countless genuine human rights abuses are occurring around the globe.
Moreover, let’s discuss the human rights you potentially infringe upon when you refuse the vaccine (or avoid wearing a mask or staying home when unwell) and then expose others to a hazardous virus. You put children who cannot yet be vaccinated at risk. You endanger the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. You jeopardize those who have not been able to access the vaccine for reasons like long work hours or lack of transportation.
Ultimately, you are acting selfishly, prioritizing your desires over the health and safety of others.
The Bottom Line
COVID-19 vaccines have been demonstrated to be a safe and effective tool in combating the pandemic. They significantly decrease the likelihood of severe illness from COVID, thereby reducing the strain on our already burdened healthcare system. The vaccines also lower the risk of infection, and if you’re not infected, you can’t transmit the virus to others.
We must do everything within our power to halt this deadly virus from spreading further. Vaccine mandates are reasonable, legal, compassionate, and protective. And whether you agree or not, they are becoming a requirement in schools, hospitals, restaurants, gyms, and workplaces near you.
For additional insights, check out this post on home insemination kits and explore the authoritative information at Intracervical Insemination, a fantastic resource for pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary
Vaccine mandates are crucial for public health, particularly during a pandemic. While personal freedom is important, it must not come at the expense of the health of others. Historical precedents support vaccine mandates, which are legal and necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The vaccines have been proven safe and effective, and individuals who choose not to get vaccinated must accept limitations on their activities and job opportunities.