Kavyaa Shah
Disease has been a constant battle for humanity and we have lost millions of lives to it. As the world progressed and science developed, we were able to create vaccines to eradicate the diseases that spread through our world. Since vaccines are a relatively new science that the general public hasn’t fully understood, there are many people that don't believe in getting vaccinated.
There are many reasons why people choose to not get vaccinated. Some have pre-existing medical conditions that make them ineligible to get vaccinated. Others are avid believers in herd immunity and think immunity should be obtained naturally. Then there are the groups of anti-vaxxers that don’t believe in vaccines due to conspiracy theories about vaccines having poisonous chemicals and microchips, all of which have insufficient evidence. What does have sufficient evidence, you ask? The scientifically backed data that is solid proof of vaccines working.
The hate towards anti-vaxxers would be significantly less if their choices did put everyone around them in danger too. Vaccines don’t just provide internal immunity but they make sure to stop or contain the spread of the disease. So all the adults not getting vaccinated are putting their co-workers, friends, families, and even the people they walk by on the street in danger. Parents that don’t get their children vaccinated are putting other young immunocompromised children in danger of being infected by a disease that has killed at least thousands, possibly millions, of people.
Before the vaccines were released, the best people could do to stop the spread of COVID was to isolate, wear masks and wash their hands. Doesn’t seem like too much to do to stop something that kills thousands daily, but people still believed it was a hoax and didn’t follow protocol. Now that vaccines are being produced we have a chance to eradicate this disease, but people that have the option to do so should do their part for society and get vaccinated.
Anti-vaxxers have a number of different reasons why they don’t wish to get vaccinated, and it is their right to choose not to and we should respect that. Having said that, someone not being given immunity for a disease does not mean they have the right to endanger others. People that have not been vaccinated must take measures to keep the people around them safe, like wearing a mask or staying clean.
In conclusion, vaccines are a big part of immunity and health. Everyone has the freedom to make their own choices, but they are still responsible for the possible consequences of their choices.
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