For over a year, many of us desired a return to normalcy in our daily lives. After the onset of the novel coronavirus facilitated a once-in-a-century pandemic, nearly everyone on the planet saw their lives impacted to a noticeable degree. However, despite the countless calls for a resumption of normal lives, over a third of the country has yet to even receive their first dose of the readily-available COVID-19 vaccines. Needless to say, the sooner we all get vaccinated, the sooner a true return to normalcy can come about. So, if you’re currently among the millions of unvaccinated Americans, you’d be wise to get vaccinated at your earliest convenience.
You’ll Protect Yourself
If keeping yourself safe from the novel coronavirus is a priority, there’s no substitute for getting vaccinated. With each of the readily available vaccines offering a high level of protection against both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 infections, there’s no excuse for not getting vaccinated as soon as possible – unless, of course, you suffer from a medical condition that prohibits vaccination. Notably, virtually all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are now among unvaccinated individuals.
Getting vaccinated is particularly important now that many states and businesses are relaxing mask mandates – or abandoning them altogether. Since the U.S. has taken an honor system approach to vaccination, a sizable percentage of the people you encounter in public will not have received their vaccines, and a fair number of them will be carrying COVID-19. Further complicating matters is the fact that many of these individuals won’t hesitate to act in bad faith and take advantage of relaxed mask rules despite not being vaccinated. Rather than contribute to this problem, get vaccinated at your earliest possible convenience and encourage others to do the same.
Some people have used the existence of breakthrough cases as evidence that vaccines are purportedly ineffective. However, it’s important to note that breakthrough cases are commonplace with any vaccine, and if you’re fully vaccinated, you’re far less likely to get a serious or fatal case of COVID-19. Again, unvaccinated individuals now account for 99% of COVID-related deaths in the U.S.
You’ll Protect Others
Throughout the course of this pandemic, many people have shrugged off the threat posed by COVID-19 on the grounds that they personally weren’t afraid of contracting the virus. However, this line of thought completely ignores public health. Regardless of how concerned you as an individual are about contracting the novel coronavirus, failing to get vaccinated and take other common sense precautions endangers the people around you, as well as public health at large. A single person can kick off countless infection clusters, regardless of how severe or asymptomatic a case of COVID-19 that person has. Even if you’re completely asymptomatic, the people you pass the virus on to may not be as lucky.
Getting vaccinated can prove particularly beneficial to any elderly and/or immunocompromised people in your life, especially if any of these individuals suffer from medical conditions that prohibit them from getting vaccinated. Additionally, if any of these individuals are hesitant to seek in-person medical advice during an active pandemic, take care to point them in the direction of online doctor visits. 
Getting Vaccinated is Easy
It couldn’t be easier to get a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. For starters, in stark contrast to virtually everything medicine-related in the United States, the vaccine is 100% free. So, if the potential cost is what’s prevented you from getting vaccinated, you needn’t worry any longer. Secondly, an extensive number of pharmacies, medical facilities and pop-up clinics are offering vaccination services, so no matter where you’re based, you shouldn’t have to go out of your way to get vaccinated. Furthermore, some states are even awarding prizes to all vaccinated residents – just in case protection against COVID-19 wasn’t enough of an incentive.
When it comes to vaccine availability, the U.S. is currently the envy of the world. Not only do we have ample supplies of three different COVID-19 vaccines, they’re all available free of charge and can be found at a wide range of medical facilities, pharmacies and pop-up clinics. Despite this, a staggering number of Americans refuse to get vaccinated, thereby prolonging this pandemic and paving the way for an assortment of COVID-19 variants. Should you require incentive to do your part and get vaccinated, consider the reasons discussed above.
