Proof of vaccination is coming to Ontario on Sept. 22 and many have decided that this decision has erased their freedom of choice. This simply isn’t true.
The “vaccine passport” is not a new idea.
Remember your immunization record? That little yellow card has stored your medical history for years now and has allowed you to attend school. All vaccines are recorded there and provide proof that you are protected against century-old diseases that only exist now because people have refused to get a vaccine.
“Vaccine passports” for COVID-19 will be needed for many things, such as eating inside a restaurant. Can’t eat at a restaurant? That’s okay, you can eat outside or cook at home. Can’t go to the gym? You can lift at home and spare everyone the ridiculous grunting and flexing. Can’t go to a concert? You can watch everyone’s Snapchat stories instead and suffer major FOMO.
Or, to avoid all that, you can get two needles that are scientifically proven to slow the transmission of COVID-19 and can save your life or those around you. Everything which requires proof of vaccination are privileges, not rights. To earn these privileges, you have to do your part and protect those around you. If you don’t, then you can have fun outside the bar while we all enjoy ourselves.
This is obviously not the case for those who are medically exempt from vaccination—people who wouldn’t be able to get it due to past conditions or other reasons. If your doctor has told you that you can’t get the vaccine for your own medical safety then that is a completely different situation.
Medical exemption and the decision to not get vaccinated are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to vaccine issues. A medical exemption is a valid reason, while choosing to risk your life and others becomes a political issue.
The current political climate is to blame for the politicization of medical safety and the radical opinions of those who don’t believe in the efficacy of vaccinations.
Those who got their vaccine will happily show their vaccine passport when needed in order to get back to normal life slowly but surely. It does not infringe on their privacy to show that they did their part in trying to bring back normalcy to our community.
Those who don’t listen to science and act selfishly put everyone in danger because they’re scared of a two-inch needle.
Featured image Lukas via Unsplash.
