It’s certainly an area that calls for discernment, which is to say it’s a disputable matter.
The conscience is something we all have to live with, and be comfortable with at the end of the day. One could very well take the position that by receiving the vaccine, they are helping others. But really, in order to help others in this way, one first has to help themselves. On the same token, some receive the vaccine only thinking of themselves with no regard for others, yet the byproduct of their actions by proxy works toward what some may consider, the greater good, as you’ve described earlier.
But then there is the other side of the coin, and that’s doubt and fear. There are many who for whatever reason, either real or imagined won’t get the vaccine because doing so would violate their conscience. It is from this perspective that I disagree with mandates because I see those pushing vaccine mandates as only serving their own agenda with no regard for others, but using others as an excuse.
Bottom line. We’re all responsible for our actions or inaction.
If I get vaccinated, I protect myself and by proxy, to those around me to a much lessor degree. To those who won’t get vaccinated, then they do so knowing the risks. I know a husband and wife who laughed at Covid early on and they both got it. She got a light sniffle and he got put on a vent. He did survive, but it brought some reality into their world. Both still refuse to get vaccinated, and that is their right, and they both have a first hand experience of the risks of Covid. If they fully understand the risks, then they are responsible for their actions.
This brings me to government assistance. My wife also got Covid and was very close to being put on a vent because I was out of town and she refused to listen to me and seek early treatment. I have excellent healthcare, but did you know I never paid a dime for her ICU stay in the Covid ward? It wasn’t cheap, yet the government paid every penny. The same goes for my friend who was on a vent. This is a point of contention for me. We knew the risk, we should be responsible for the bill, regardless if you can pay it or not.
Having the government pay a full hospital bill takes away from claiming full responsibility for my wife’s bad choices, and without a doubt, millions like her that didn’t get the vaccine for whatever reason. And this brings me to early treatment. We need to put as much emphasis on early treatment as we do the vaccine and this alone will eliminate the bulk of ICU beds being filled with Covid patients.
Like your town, my county was the hotbed of the Nation for a short time last year. I know more people who have had Covid than those who haven’t. Most pull through within 5 -7 days and by week 2 they are as good as new. So overall, most people are building a natural immunity, which needs to happen either through vaccination or surviving the virus.
As far as companies, a local restaurant made national news because they refused to shut down. They were fined and lost their liquor license, but stayed open. They were very responsible and the judge even said that if all the restaurants applied the same safety measures, there would be no need to shut the restaurants down.
