What does however, is that certain players have a role they are taking on right now optically, to protect the majority from an even worse stage of circumstances. It could be SO much worse right now than it is, with endless lockdowns, and MANDATORY vaccinations. Trump actually prevented that. We have until the FDA emergency authorization ends, and they could switch that on real quick…
See what’s going on right now in Greece, and France etc?
What’s the ONE issue that will get MOST every American engaged, and out in the streets of EVERY city in the country?
MANDATORY VACCINES.
Coworker = not a friend if that is the reaction. Friends would seek to understand your reasoning. They would understand that the freedoms we are supposed to have allow you to make your own choices. If that coworker had actual faith in the vaccine they would not be angry or worried.
My take is that most doubt the vaccine, they can smell the lie, but cannot accept it. The doubt in the vaccine is causing fear and fear is driving that response. The fear is the root of the anger. Too bad that the coworker is afraid! Afraid of getting educated, afraid of learning the truth. Next time instead of addressing that coworkers anger, address that coworkers fear, "what are they actually afraid of?". The source of the fear is the lack of being educated.
It's better to rid yourself of false friends without 'outing' truths about yourself. Much like the Nazi German citizen who was friends with a Jew - you, the Jew, would not want to reveal yourself if your NSDAP friend stood to gain from your demise, or discovered a reason to hold a personal grudge against you...
Certain secrets should stay yours, until your natural predators are... gone.
Most of the people you work with are not your real friends and do not seek deeper meaning. Just acceptance and affability.