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Last week, shortly after COVID-19 vaccinations were made available for children, a lively discussion erupted in my son’s school group chat. One parent inquired about where to secure a vaccine appointment for their child and wanted to hear about any side effects experienced by others. These seemed like standard questions; after all, this chat regularly discusses everything from pet grooming services to reliable plumbers.
However, the moment this question was posed, someone interjected with, “We can’t talk about the vaccine here. It’s too political.”
I understood their point. Vaccines have indeed become a divisive political topic, particularly among those on the right who often downplay the pandemic and subscribe to conspiracy theories surrounding vaccines and pharmaceutical companies. While there are certainly people on the left with similar beliefs, the narrative that vaccines are part of a government scheme to harm us is predominantly a right-wing stance.
Yet, the original poster wasn’t asking for opinions on whether her child should receive the vaccine or if schools should mandate it. She simply wanted to know where to take her child for the vaccine and what experiences others had shared.
What has happened to our society? I genuinely want to understand.
Once one parent deemed the topic “too political,” others quickly agreed. Shortly after, someone began sharing unverified information about the supposed “unknown” effects of the vaccine, while another raised alarm about potential future consequences of vaccinating children. Ironically, these parents were the same ones who had insisted that the topic shouldn’t be discussed at all.
A few of us, myself included, eventually stepped in to offer information on where our children had been vaccinated and where to find more details. I couldn’t resist asking, “Since when have vaccines become ‘political?’”
Public health should not be a matter of politics. If our drinking water were found to be contaminated, would people really protest against the government’s efforts to purify it? What about firefighters or safe roadways? These are all government-funded initiatives designed to protect us. Why isn’t there outrage over those issues?
There aren’t two sides when it comes to protecting the public from a deadly virus that continues to claim thousands of American lives each day. Even those opposed to vaccines should not object to discussions about them. Isn’t it a “you do you” culture?
Beyond the confusion of the heated exchange in our group chat, I was struck by how labeling something as “too political” served as a tactic to silence the conversation. If we can’t talk about certain topics, we miss out on sharing valuable information, and simple discussions about getting our kids vaccinated become taboo.
Fortunately, this tactic didn’t last long. Although the initial discussion went off the rails, a few days later, another parent asked the same question about vaccination locations, and this time, straightforward suggestions were provided. Nobody complained that it was “too sensitive” to discuss. Thank goodness.
If parents were prohibited from exchanging basic information about vaccinations and health, I would be extremely concerned. Things are challenging enough as they are.
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Summary
The author expresses concern over how the topic of vaccines has become politicized, hindering open discussions among parents about their children’s health. Despite initial resistance, the chat eventually resumed sharing useful information, highlighting the importance of communication in public health matters.
Keyphrase
Vaccines and Politics
Tags
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