Is The Vaccine Mandate Necessary?

Commentary by La’sha Green. Photo from the U.S Air Force.

October 26, 2021. What is a vaccine mandate and how does it affect you? Well a mandate is “an official order or commission to do something”.The law states it’s mandatory to get the Covid-19 vaccine if you’re working. For now, the vaccine mandate only affects employers and businesses with more than 100 employees. In some cases like at Friendship Collegiate Academy, athletes have to get vaccinated by November.  

My personal opinion is that the vaccine should be optional. Each person’s body is different so I feel like we don’t know how the vaccine affects people. According to CDC.org, even though it’s rare, people can develop anaphylaxis, also known as a severe allergic reaction. That can include a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, or a generalized rash or hives.

A lot of people disagree with this mandate. My twin sister is against the mandate because of how quickly the vaccine was developed. Claims like that can be debunked easily but people are still worried. 

If people are forced to get this vaccine, we can face a negative outcome because of their fear. I believe this paranoia can result in an attempted civil war or government uprising against the vaccine. 

La’sha Green is a junior at Friendship Collegiate Academy.