Back in 2003, when New York City implemented a smoking ban in public venues like bars and restaurants, the reaction was intense. I was living and working in the city at that time, and people were outraged. Enjoying a cigarette in a dimly lit bar while sipping a drink was seen as essential to the New York experience. Many claimed their freedoms were being stripped away from them.
But that was absurd. What actually happened was that public spaces became safer for everyone. Secondhand smoke is deadly, and while some may not care about the risks associated with smoking, doing so in public can endanger others. Sound familiar?
For the past 18 months, we’ve heard a lot about personal liberty: the right to disregard lockdowns, to avoid wearing masks, and to refuse vaccines. These arguments hinge on the belief that individuals should have complete autonomy over their bodies, as if personal rights outweigh everything else.
However, the discussion around personal freedom only holds when it doesn’t jeopardize others. In the context of a pandemic, where a virus spreads easily from person to person, your individual choices can have serious—and often fatal—consequences for others.
Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is fully authorized by the FDA, and mandates are popping up everywhere—including in workplaces, schools, the military, and various entertainment venues—we’re likely to hear the “personal freedom/rights violation” argument more than ever.
It’s time to put this nonsense to rest. If you choose not to get vaccinated, you’re essentially saying you accept the risks the virus poses to you, and that no one has the right to dictate what you put in your body. Sure, fine. But when it comes to public health, your choices impact others (hence “public” health). If you opt out of vaccination, you should be prepared to forgo certain activities and job opportunities.
This isn’t new. There is a long history of vaccine mandates at state and local levels, and this is just an extension of that practice. In other words, vaccine mandates are entirely legal. While there isn’t a federal vaccine mandate, as noted by Scientific American, various state, local, and business-specific mandates have been in place for years. The Supreme Court has upheld this since as far back as 1905 and 1922.
Schools have mandated vaccines for children for decades. Many healthcare providers and businesses require flu shots. The military has been enforcing vaccine mandates forever. Some countries won’t even let you enter without proof of certain vaccinations, like the yellow fever vaccine.
Yet, the freedom-loving individuals who refuse vaccines might argue, “Forcing someone to get vaccinated to access work, restaurants, or entertainment is a violation of human rights.” Let’s be clear: human rights encompass protection from torture, ensuring access to shelter, clean water, and food. Claiming that being asked to get vaccinated is a human rights violation is an insult to those suffering genuine human rights abuses worldwide.
And what about the human rights you potentially infringe upon by not getting vaccinated (or wearing a mask or staying home when sick) and then entering public spaces, possibly spreading a deadly virus? You’re endangering vulnerable populations: children too young to be vaccinated, the elderly, and those who can’t access vaccines for various reasons like work commitments or transportation issues.
In short:
The COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective in combatting the pandemic. They significantly lower your risk of severe illness and reduce the burden on our already strained healthcare system. Vaccination decreases the likelihood of infection, meaning you can’t spread the virus to others.
We must do everything we can to halt this deadly virus. Vaccine mandates are logical, legal, compassionate, and protective. They are coming to schools, hospitals, restaurants, gyms, and workplaces near you, whether you like it or not.
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Summary:
Vaccine mandates, rooted in public health necessity, are legal and designed to protect communities during the pandemic. Personal freedom arguments fail when individual choices endanger others. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and crucial for reducing severe illness and strain on healthcare systems. As mandates become more prevalent, those opting out must accept the consequences of their choices.
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