First of all, I would like to mention that I am fully vaccinated and that I support vaccination. Besides, the vaccine came to me as a relief. I decided to get vaccinated to protect myself and my loved ones, but also for the well-being of society as a whole.
I currently perceive a stigmatization of the unvaccinated in public opinion and the media. We have the amalgams at the tip of the lips. An unvaccinated person is necessarily a conspirator, an anti-tax little educated and centered on himself. Sometimes I have the impression that we are on a witch hunt, a hunt for the unvaccinated.
For months, the topic of the hour has been vaccination. Vaccination passport. Achievement of ever higher immunization coverage targets. Vaccination compulsory for more workers. Immediate vaccination of children under 12 years old. Even Mr. Legault, visibly at the end of his mind, begged us to get our hands dirty and convince at least one vaccine-resistant in our entourage. It doesn’t take much more to make us completely obsessed with vaccination. No wonder we come to perceive the unvaccinated as the number one enemy of society.
Vaccination is obvious to me. So I was surprised and taken aback when people close to me told me that they did not want to be vaccinated. Eh ? But why ? Total incomprehension on my part.
These people are, however, close friends whom I love and esteem very much. They are dedicated, educated, science-working mothers and loving friends. They are not conspirators, they are not selfish, they are not lacking in empathy. They are also not antivax since they, the children and even the dog, received in the past vaccines. They are only afraid. Fear of the speed with which a new type of vaccine, mRNA vaccines, has been developed, as well as long-term side effects for them and their loved ones. It is difficult to contradict them on this; no one has a crystal ball that can predict the future effects of the vaccine on our health. And fear is the best brake on action that I know of.
With the constant ambient pressure, one was finally reluctantly vaccinated so that she could continue to be present with her children in all these activities where the vaccination passport is required. At work, she also felt pressure from her superiors since some of her duties require the vaccination passport. She admits the solution is vaccination, but she doesn’t want an mRNA vaccine first released in record time.
Even if they do not rally with the majority, unvaccinated people deserve to be treated with respect and empathy. They have fears that are not all unfounded. It is not by invalidating their fears, by humiliating them, by making them feel guilty and by putting excessive pressure on them that they will change their mind and adhere to the vaccination.
I believe in taking the time to listen to the unvaccinated, to welcome them, to try to understand their fears and to recognize that some of them are valid. When we understand what is scary, we can at least try to find the information, answer questions and reassure. One thing is certain, however, is that we will not be able to reassure about the unknown long-term effects.
The fear may not go away completely or cause these people to get vaccinated, but at least I hope that we will approach a more respectful and empathetic living together. We need it badly in these difficult times.