There are risks to each of our choices as whether to vaccinate or not vaccinate for COVID-19.
To think there are no risks is risky. We have no knowledge of the effect of vaccination in five years, ten years, thirty years. This a new vaccine and the unknown is the unknown.
It is not only that we have friends, relatives, neighbors that refuse to be vaccinated that is a problem for a great deal of us grandparents. Many of us grandparents have underlying conditions. According to the CDC:
If you have a condition or are taking medication that weakens your immune system, you may NOT be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. Talk to your healthcare provider. Even after vaccination, you may need to continue taking all precautions.
If we do not have such a condition, then our spouse or significant other may.
This grandma has started to resume activities and get together with friends. Most have been outdoors. Now, with all of us fully vaccinated, we are starting to do so indoors, some wearing masks, some not.
When I rejoined one of those activities, I realized the importance of ASKING if everyone is vaccinated. We learned that one of the members of the group did not believe in vaccinations and did not intend to be vaccinated. She was also rightfully confused about the risks and wanted to wait until there was more definitive medical information about the long-term unknown safety of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Yes, those of us vaccinated made a risk assessment and decided living life today was worth the risks tomorrow.
That is what she was told.
She was also told that unvaccinated she was not welcome to rejoin the group or any of our social activities.
She reconsidered
She got vaccinated.
Living life today is more important than social isolation. We have had enough isolation due to the treat and danger of COVID-19 to us. We have had enough of FaceTime and Zoom. The pressure of social isolation is a wonderful impetus for those who are reluctant . . . .
Or it is just their loss.
We identified the one major impetus for our friends and relatives to be vaccinated as soon as it is available to them. Try it.
Joy,
Mema
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