We are all from different parts of the world with different walks of life. At the peak of the vaccine mandate, things got really intense--especially in some parts of the world. I had no social pressure from friends or family, but there were was some with my career.
The place I work at sent out a letter saying that vaccination was required for further employment. I began sending out job applications, and got an interviewed for a job that I really wanted, but they said I had to get vaccinated. At that time, I realized how much the pressure sucked for those I was reading about in the news. Very thankful now I never took the vaccine.
What is your story? Did you ever consider taking the vax?
Felt pressure to take the shot when my employer made it mandatory. My wife was pregnant with twins at the time, and due in 2.5 months. There was obviously pressure from her parents to get it. I was put on unpaid leave for 2 weeks, then kept off work for another 5 weeks (while they debated and stalled my religious exemption). I ended up getting the religious exemption.
I felt more pressure to take the vaccine when the hospitals implemented a mandate requiring all visitors to have had their second shot. This meant that I wouldn’t be able to watch the birth of my two sons. I still didn’t get the shot, but that was the most pressure I’d felt to take the vaccine. One week before her due date, my wife was rushed to the hospital for what we thought were contractions, and the hospital staff ignored the rule for me. The pain she was experiencing weren’t contractions. The hospital team did an emergency c section but we lost both boys. My wife lost a lot of blood and almost died herself. I was able to watch the hospital team try and resuscitate my boys for 25 minutes. This and several hours afterwards was the only time I had with my boys. We spent three days in the hospital. I suspect they bent the rules for me because the whole unit felt bad for us. I’m angry these rules were made in the first place, and I’m angry at healthcare in general. But I’m super grateful for the nurses those days.
I can’t even imagine what it would have been like if they did not bend the rules for me. And I’m sure in those moments I would’ve regretted not getting my vaccines.