Last week, when COVID vaccines were finally made available for kids, the group chat for my son’s school quickly became active. One parent asked if anyone had successfully booked a vaccine appointment for their children and what side effects they had experienced. It seemed like a perfectly reasonable question. After all, parents often seek recommendations for doctors or ask about the best local pet groomers.
But then, out of nowhere, someone declared, “We can’t talk about the vaccine here; it’s too political.”
I knew exactly what they meant. The vaccine debate has become incredibly politicized, with many on the right downplaying the pandemic and promoting conspiracy theories surrounding the vaccine and “big Pharma.” Sure, there are left-leaning individuals who share similar sentiments, but for the most part, the idea that vaccines and mandates are part of a vast government conspiracy is a heavily right-wing narrative.
However, the person who initiated the conversation was simply trying to gather information about where to get her child vaccinated and what to expect based on others’ experiences. What on earth has happened to us?
After the initial comment about politics, other parents jumped on the bandwagon, agreeing that the topic should be off-limits. Subsequently, one parent began sharing unverified, dubious claims about the “unknown” effects of the vaccine, while another threw in some alarming predictions about potential long-term consequences if kids got vaccinated now.
Wait a second! Didn’t we just agree that this topic was “too political” to discuss?
Eventually, a few of us, including myself, stepped up to share where our kids had been vaccinated and where to find more information. I couldn’t help but ask, “Since when did vaccines become ‘political?’”
Honestly, what are we doing here? Public health shouldn’t be a political issue. If our drinking water were contaminated, would people be upset about the government’s efforts to ensure our safety? What about firefighters or safe food manufacturing? These are all government-funded initiatives aimed at protecting us, so why isn’t there outrage over those?
There aren’t “two sides” to protecting others from a deadly virus that is taking thousands of lives daily. And even if you’re against the vaccine, why is it a problem for others to discuss their decisions about it? I thought we were all about the “you do you” mindset here?
Beyond the absurdity of the conversation in our school chat, I realized that labeling something as “too political” is just a tactic to shut down discussion. If we can’t talk about certain topics, we can’t share information, and it creates a taboo around normal conversations about our kids’ health, like getting their vaccinations.
Fortunately, this tactic didn’t last long. Yes, the earlier discussion got a bit out of hand, and I’m not sure the original question was ever answered. However, a few days later, another parent asked the same question about where to get their kid vaccinated, and this time, helpful suggestions were shared without any complaints about the conversation being “too sensitive.” Thank goodness!
If regular parents can’t exchange basic information about doctor appointments and vaccinations, I would truly freak out. Things are challenging enough as they are.
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In summary, it’s alarming that a topic like vaccines, essential for public health, has become a political battleground. We should be focused on sharing information and supporting each other in making informed decisions for our children’s health, rather than shutting down discussions out of fear of political backlash.
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