To Vaccinate or Not To Vaccinate?

Commentary by Kayla Adames. Photo courtesy of Kaiser Health News.

FEB. 2, 2022: To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? Nowadays, it feels like we are forced to get vaccinated to do almost anything. From going to restaurants, staying in hotels and even attending school, proof of vaccination is mandated which leaves the choice of getting vaccinated up to the people. Did you get vaccinated, or did you skip it and also skip out on doing things you like? As of January 25, 2022, only 63.8% of the US population has been fully vaccinated. 

Even though this is good news, we have to take the people who don't want to get vaccinated into consideration. It may be a medical or personal reason, but every day people are being turned down for services due to being unvaccinated. You are even supposed to be fully vaccinated to be in the US for more than 60 days as a visiting foreigner. So getting vaccinated is something forced on not just Americans but the rest of the world as well.

I believe that getting vaccinated with any vaccine is a personal choice and it shouldn’t be forced on anyone. Yet we see that basic services and jobs are denied for those who are unvaccinated. I think the vaccine mandate should be stopped. Instead, it would be better if there was a mandate that forced people to show a negative Covid test before entering a restaurant, school or job. What do you think—to vaccinate or not to vaccinate?

Kayla Adames is a 7th grade scholar at Friendship International School.