VAXING

 As harsh as this may sound, and I realize some may disagree, I believe we need to have an honest conversation about personal responsibility when it comes to vaccination.

If a safe, effective vaccine is available to prevent a serious illness, shouldn't people be encouraged to take advantage of that protection? While I understand that medical exemptions and individual circumstances must be considered, it's frustrating to see preventable diseases put lives at risk when protection is available.

Regardless of Trump's executive orders or political opinions, I believe children entering school and students entering college should be required to provide proof of vaccination, subject to appropriate medical exemptions. This isn't about politics; it's about public health and protecting one another.

Vaccines don't just protect the individuals who receive them. They also help protect infants, people with weakened immune systems, and others who may not be able to receive certain vaccines. When vaccination rates fall, preventable diseases can spread, putting entire communities at risk.

Not getting vaccinated can have serious consequences, including hospitalization and death. If someone refuses a recommended vaccine and then becomes seriously ill, who bears the consequences? The individual? Their family? Or the wider community exposed to the disease?

I recognize that no vaccine is perfect and that medical decisions can be complicated. But we cannot ignore the evidence that vaccination has prevented countless illnesses and deaths.

This should not be a political issue. It should be a matter of science, public health, and common sense.

Freedom comes with responsibility, and protecting public health is a responsibility we all share.