The Story of an Anti-Vaxxer
Eighteen years ago, I knew a woman who didn’t vaccinate her kids. She was uncomfortable with the number of shots given to very young children whose immune systems weren’t fully developed. There was a theory at that point that although communicable disease infections had dropped as a result of vaccines, cancers and autoimmune disorders were rising alarmingly, and that vaccines could be damaging children’s immune systems in ways they didn’t yet know. This woman had her babies delivered by a midwife who supported her choice not to vaccinate, and her pediatrician advised her to get a religious exemption so that her kids could attend school. She belonged to a co-op preschool alternative with other like-minded moms. She felt confident that she was doing the right thing. The reason I know so much about her is because the woman was… me. Looking back, my friends and I were so arrogant. When my parents tried to convince me to at least get some of the vaccines, I rolled my eyes- they clearly didn’t know what they were talking about. Life went along smoothly for many years. There were no outbreaks of mumps or polio to threaten anyone’s health. Then came 2020 and Covid. When people started talking about the Covid vaccine I got nervous. I knew that the vaccine issue was going to be opened up in a way that could become uncomfortable for me and my family. My first reaction was resistance- I didn’t believe in vaccines. Since I had been opposed to vaccines all along, the fact that this one was a “new” type or the idea that it was “rushed” didn’t actually bother me. It’s just that it was a vaccine, and we didn’t do that. Luckily I didn’t fall into a group that was eligible for the vaccine right away, so I had plenty of time to mull it over. Compared to a lot of people, my own life wasn’t disrupted by Covid too much. I still went to work as usual, and no one I knew became seriously ill or died. But I was so, so sad about how my kids lives were affected. My daughter left her elementary school at spring break of fifth grade and never went back- then had to start middle school in the middle of a pandemic. Even worse, my son had his senior year of high school ruined. Not only did he miss all the normal things a senior would do, but he was supposed to travel for a trumpet competition, a summer music festival, and all-state orchestra. Everything was canceled and he spent the year doing school in his room at home. By the time I was eligible for the vaccine, my attitude had become “Just give me the stupid shot so we can get back to normal.” When they approved Pfizer for eighteen and older, my son wanted it immediately, and although I was a little worried about it, I let him get it. But when they approved it for twelve and up, my old fears really returned. My son insisted that my twelve-year-old daughter get it right away. When he asked why I was hesitating, I told him I just wasn’t sure what the vaccine might do to her. His response: “You don’t know what Covid might do to her.” I brought up the fear about damage to her reproductive system and he said “These are scientists. They’re not going to make a mistake that would wipe out the human race. She’ll be fine.” When did my son get smarter than me, anyway? It was when I brought my daughter for her first shot that my perspective truly shifted. I thought about the scientists who worked so hard to develop the vaccine to get us out of this pandemic. I thought about the lives that would be saved. I thought about how relieved people must have been when the polio vaccine came out. No wonder my parents were so upset that my kids weren’t vaccinated! They lived through a time where they actually had to fear a serious disease… and now I had, too. Life is wonderful when you have the opportunity to change your mind. Before my son went to college, he got caught up on his vaccines. He could have submitted his religious exemption, but he felt that would be dishonest. He was critical of my decision not to vaccinate them, saying that only “right wing conspiracy theory nuts” don’t vaccinate their kids (no, no! I was a left wing conspiracy theory nut!) I still stand by some of my beliefs. I still say I had the right to question what went into my kids’ bodies. If I had to do it all over again, I would probably give my kids their shots on a delayed schedule. So what do I think about the people who won’t get the Covid vaccine? Well… It’s complicated. I’ve been there, so I can empathize. If someone has been an anti-vaxxer all along for their own personal reasons, and is willing to accept responsibility for their own health, then they shouldn’t be forced to get the vaccine. Those people are few enough that it won’t affect the rest of us. The goal isn’t to eradicate Covid, but just to make it manageable and less dangerous. If someone isn’t getting the Covid vaccine for political reasons, like they think there’s a conspiracy involving Hillary Clinton, the pharmaceutical companies, Barack OBama, and the lab in China (believe it or not, I’ve heard all about this one) then they need to shut the f*ck up and get the shot. Stop being ridiculous. But what do I know? I’ve been wrong before and I’m no longer arrogant (well, about this at least, ha ha.) We don’t need to be 100% vaccinated in order to get past this pandemic. I do think people who don’t get vaccinated are taking a risk, but hey… you do you. I’ll do me, and I got the shot. I know this is a