Ask Home Insemination Kit: My Family is Shaming Me for Getting the Vaccine Early

Welcome to the Home Insemination Kit advice column, where our team of experts tackles your questions about life, body image, relationships, and more.

This week’s question: How do you deal with family shaming you for getting vaccinated early?

Dear Home Insemination Kit,

I recently discovered that my state’s early vaccine rollout includes individuals with a BMI over 30. I want to clarify that I don’t believe BMI is a valid medical tool, but since it’s part of the current system, I decided to take advantage of it. With my BMI qualifying me for vaccination in phase 1A, I secured an appointment for the COVID vaccine. However, when I shared this news with my family, I expected them to be relieved or happy. Instead, they criticized me for “taking a spot away” from someone more deserving, like elderly individuals or those with weakened immune systems. They think I’m not “fat enough” to get vaccinated right now and have urged me to wait. What should I do?

There’s a lot to unpack here. First, it’s essential to emphasize that EVERYONE needs the vaccine. The more people vaccinated, the better chance we have of achieving herd immunity. If you qualify based on your state’s guidelines, there’s no such thing as getting the vaccine “too early.”

Let’s address the core issue. If your BMI exceeds 30, congratulations—you qualify for the vaccine! This is based on the understanding that having a higher BMI may put you at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19. While that’s not a certainty for every person with a higher BMI, it is a recognized risk factor. Your eligibility for the vaccine doesn’t diminish anyone else’s need.

Yes, the concept of BMI is flawed. It classifies individuals based solely on height and weight, ignoring factors like genetics, lifestyle, and overall health. It’s a simplistic tool that has often been weaponized against those deemed “overweight.”

This situation could prompt a conversation about the relevance of BMI in medical decisions, but if this is what the government is using for vaccine qualifications, feel no guilt in utilizing your BMI to get vaccinated now. You might consider sharing this knowledge with your family or reminding them that herd immunity is more important than their judgments.

Congrats on securing your appointment, and best of luck navigating your family dynamics!

For more insights, check out this related post here and explore this excellent resource for more on donor insemination.

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Summary:

In this advice column, the author addresses a reader’s concerns about family shame for receiving the COVID vaccine early due to their BMI. They emphasize the importance of vaccination for everyone, clarify that meeting eligibility criteria is valid, and encourage the reader to stand firm against familial criticism. The article also critiques the use of BMI as a medical metric while advocating for personal health decisions.