A lot has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2019. During that time, COVID was spreading rapidly throughout other countries. Then, in March of 2020, COVID hit the United States, causing the nation to go into lockdown. These last few years have been crazy, as quarantining, social distancing, and masks have gotten the best of us. The COVID-19 vaccine was developed earlier last year and millions are already vaccinated. Should the COVID-19 vaccine be mandatory? 

Positives:

Getting vaccinated ensures extra protection against COVID. While the vaccine doesn’t make one immune to the illness, it highly prevents becoming seriously sick and dying from the virus. Vaccines created by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson have been distributed all around the world. Although the Pfizer vaccine is available for those five and older, you have to be 18+ for both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine. No matter the name, all vaccine types work the same and are proven to be safe by both the CDC and health experts. 

Negatives:

Despite its benefits, the vaccine is still viewed negatively. A main reason has to do with its painful side effects. Side effects include swelling in the arm, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea that can last anywhere from one day to a week. In addition, some are hesitant to get vaccinated due to how quickly the vaccine was developed. On average, vaccines take five to ten years to be produced, however, the COVID-19 vaccine came out less than a year after the pandemic started. 

Verdict:

COVID research gets more advanced by the day and science continues leading to great things. That being said, the vaccine should not be mandatory for everyone. Although the vaccine should be required for those working with children and the sick, it should be a choice made for the millions of others who don’t fall in those fields, including students and younger children. Although society has been given a great deal of information on the vaccine, it’s understandable that anyone wants to be completely comfortable with it before injecting it into their body. And, as Americans, we have the right to choose what we want to do with our bodies.