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8 Ways Not Being Vaccinated Makes Life More Difficult

Many are focused on the potential effects of getting the Covid-19 vaccine, but what are the effects of not being vaccinated?

By Gina CalleaPublished 3 years ago 6 min read
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8 Ways Not Being Vaccinated Makes Life More Difficult
Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

As the world strives to return to normal and achieve herd immunity against Covid-19, whether or not to get vaccinated is a hard-line issue. While each person has their own personal reasons for the decision, there's no denying that there are a growing number of ways that not being vaccinated makes life more difficult in a "back to normal" world.

Limited Access to Public Events (and Possibly All Public Places)

A growing number of venues are placing restrictions on unvaccinated customers and attendees. Sporting events are setting up vaccine-only sections, states and the CDC aren't lifting mask mandates for unvaccinated people, and other public venues are requiring proof of vaccination for entry. Public schools are likely to add Covid to the list of required immunizations, and state colleges are also likely to require the vaccination before students return to campus.

What's more is that the majority of the public supports these decisions. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that 62% of the public supports not allowing unvaccinated people to travel on airplanes. 55% believed that unvaccinated people should not exercise in public gyms, sit in movie theaters, or attend concerts. 72% said it was important to know if people nearby were vaccinated, further encouraging vaccine-only sections or time slots.

Limited Travel Options

Before you book that summer trip or snow-bird getaway, make sure to check the restrictions on your destination.

Some countries have already imposed travel bans for unvaccinated people, and aren't letting people in from other countries without proof of vaccination. Many cruise lines are also requiring a "vaccine passport" before you can book a trip.

Within the US, some states are still requiring quarantine periods or testing when traveling out of state. As with other businesses, it's also likely that airlines will begin imposing restrictions based on vaccination status, or even separate vaccine-only sections on planes.

It's Scary Being Around Children (or Friends that Have Them)

Whatever their reasons for choosing not to get the vaccine, unvaccinated individuals need to weigh the risk of infecting others—particularly those that can't get vaccinated or whose vaccines may not be effective.

As with most things about Covid-19, we're still learning exactly what can and can't happen once you're vaccinated. There is much speculation about vaccinated people being carriers, infecting others but never being symptomatic themselves. It is unclear at this point whether you need to actually be infected with the virus to be a carrier, and this is the biggest risk for parents right now. If vaccinated people can become carriers without being infected, but simply by coming in contact with someone else who is, the risk of spreading it to others becomes a much larger concern.

Children aren't yet able to get vaccinated, and if a parent becomes a carrier, there's very little preventing them from infecting their kids. And unvaccinated people are the most likely to infect these parents or cause them to become a carrier. This concern doesn't apply just to children, either. We're still learning how immunocompromised people react to the vaccine, and getting Covid is more life-or-death for them than most. So until there's more info available on this risk, unvaccinated people should be particularly careful around friends or family with children or immunocompromised people in their lives.

And Some Friends or Family May Set Boundaries Voluntarily

Just because your vaccinated friends are allowed to see you doesn't mean they're comfortable with it. For the reasons above, and because everyone is still learning how protected vaccinated people actually are, many who chose to get the vaccine are hesitant to spend time with their unvaccinated friends. The internet is filled with articles about how to tactfully tell your unvaccinated friends you don't want to see them, and others telling unvaccinated people to bear with their vaccinated friends and empathize with their point of view. This is an indication of just how often these conflicts are happening, and they're likely to get worse before they get better.

By Maxime on Unsplash

You Are Now Officially "That Employee"

Management teams have spent countless hours debating when to bring employees back to the office and how to make it as safe as possible. For those offices who truly need employees back in the office, deciding what to do with unvaccinated employees is its own unique concern. Many employers don't want to discriminate against unvaccinated employees for their beliefs or circumstances, but also don't want vaccinated employees to feel any less safe.

While your employer having to make tough decisions on this matter is by no means a reason to change your stance on vaccination, it's important to understand how this could impact your career as a whole. Employers can require you to work from home if you're unvaccinated, and in some offices and professions this can limit your upward mobility. More recently, employers have been grappling with both the legal and moral implications of letting employees go for not getting vaccinated. Some professions already require vaccination records before they'll hire you, and these employers are rapidly adding Covid-19 to the list of required immunizations.

People Make Assumptions About You

Whatever your personal reason for remaining unvaccinated is, there are certain stereotypes that others will assign to you. The truth is, while any one (or more) of these assumptions may be true of an unvaccinated person, they are certainly not true of everyone who didn't get a Covid-19 vaccine.

There are 3 prominent stereotypes:

  • Far-Right: Many correlate not getting vaccinated with right-wing political views, particularly a support of former President Donald Trump.
  • Conspiracy Theorist: With rumors flying of microchips, sterility, carcinogens, mind control, and more, many assume the unvaccinated must prescribe to a belief in a conspiracy involving the contents of the vaccine.
  • Anti-Vaxxer: Many fail to differentiate that deciding not to get one particular vaccine does not necessarily mean you are against vaccinations as a concept. It just means you are against this specific vaccine.

You Still Have to Quarantine If Exposed

At this point, those who are fully vaccinated no longer need to quarantine if they come into contact with an infected individual. If you are unvaccinated, however, you still need to quarantine in such a situation. Between work, grocery availability, pet care, child care, and other everyday necessities, it's easy to see why needing to quarantine can derail your life.

Aside from this, you also need to continue to wear your mask for the foreseeable future, making it easier for the public at large to identify you as unvaccinated as more and more places lift mask mandates for vaccinated people.

You're More Likely to Be Unknowingly Exposed

Lastly, you are more likely to be unknowingly exposed than you were before the masses were able to be vaccinated. Since vaccinated individuals are more likely to be asymptomatic carriers, meaning it's more possible than ever to get infected and not know it until you're struggling for breath and have spent days infecting those around you.

While this is a deeply personal decision with many facets to it, society at large and the nature of Covid-19 are making it increasingly difficult for unvaccinated people to function normally in the new "normal" world. It's important that every individual understand not only the medical and safety implications of their decision, but the ripple effect it can create in the rest of their lives.

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About the Creator

Gina Callea

Chief of Staff @ Creatd

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