On December 11th, 2020, a vaccine aiming to protect individuals from the coronavirus was released. Because of this vaccine, lives have been saved all around the world. However, over a year later, people are still fearful of the vaccine and unwilling to get vaccinated.

Getting vaccinated is one step towards eliminating the virus altogether. It is one large step that millions of people were willing to take. However, 41% of people in Michigan aren’t willing to be a part of this large step, and these people refuse to get vaccinated. My friends aren’t vaccinated. In fact, I am the only person in my friend group who is. I’m also the only person who hasn’t had to quarantine. Getting 2 doses of a safe and effective vaccine can save you weeks of time that you would’ve had to spend trapped in your bedroom. It might only be me, but that sounds like absolute torture.

Many people say that the vaccine isn’t safe, but that is anything but true. I can tell you this because I am vaccinated, and nothing deleterious happened to me. The same goes for millions of others who have gotten the vaccine. In fact, only 0.2 percent of people who are fully vaccinated had an allergic reaction to the vaccine. Many people are stuck in their obstinate ways, but sometimes people need to have an open mind about things. Individuals need to look at scientific evidence showing that the coronavirus vaccine is not only safe, but it is effective.

This pandemic has been anything but tranquil and straight-forward. We can end this pandemic altogether, if we can all take one step forward. If we can simply do the correct thing. The foremost reason people refuse to get vaccinated is because they believe that they have the right to do anything they want, because this is a free country. However, getting vaccinated is like putting a seatbelt on. It is something you do to protect yourself. Getting vaccinated is something that you do to protect yourself, and in the process you’re protecting other people.

Nobody wants this pandemic to continue. I think everyone can agree on that. Lives have been taken. Many of these deaths could’ve been prevented. Most hospitalizations from the virus, and nearly all deaths, are among the unvaccinated. Imagine how many less people would’ve died if so many people had just gotten vaccinated.

The vaccine is especially important for people who are 65 and over. Senior citizens have been impacted by the virus more than any other age group. It is so important for them to get vaccinated to protect themselves, and it is important for people who are around them to get vaccinated, as well.

As a citizen of the United States, your duty is to protect your community. One easy way to do that is to get vaccinated. It is one small step to eradicating, or nearly eradicating, the coronavirus. One small step that you take can change the world.