Treat the unvaxxed like pariahs

Sometimes I am almost too willing to compromise.

That will come as a surprise to some who know me, but it’s true. Sometimes.

In my last column,  I said I was willing to mask up again, in light of the delta version of COVID-19 sweeping the nation. In essence, I always want to do the right thing, the lawful thing.

I stand by that, but, as I noted, asking the vaccinated to wear  masks amounts to punishing those who took precautions — the vaccinated — to protect those too stupid and selfish to protect themselves — the unvaccinated. They are in what I call the witless protection program. 

As a rule, I am loath to tell people what to do. I am usually content to lay out the facts, say what and why I am going to do, and let it go at that.

But every rule has exceptions and what’s happening now is contralogical. The people who did the right thing are being punished.

The only decent excuse I have heard  to avoid the vaccine came from a woman friend who has not yet had children, but wants to. She fears there could be unknown side effects, and there haven’t yet been enough vaccinated women who carried to term to assure her. 

I understand that, as opposed to some men who believe the false rumor that the vaccination will impair their fertility. In fact, research has shown just the opposite to be true, with vaccinated sperm, so to speak, being more mobile than unvaccinated. I don’t know why. 

And we won’t even go into those who worry the vaccine contains a mind control device implanted by Bill Gates. 

There are lists of conspiracy theories, such as one published by The Atlantic.

It’s hard to deal with irrational fears, because they are irrational. Reason and logic often don’t work. It’s like a child’s fear of the bogeyman.

Pew research reported that 21% of Americans “do not want to get vaccinated and are ‘pretty certain’ more information won’t change their mind.” In other words, facts don’t matter. That’s what we are dealing with.

There is lots of good information for those with open minds.

Stupid and stubborn are a toxic combination. Even some health care workers are refusing the shot. 

Shall we let the unvaxxed dictate to the rest of us? Shall we wear masks forever because this minority won’t do the right thing?

Let’s not.

If we can’t or won’t force them to receive the vaccine, we can segregate them. Treat them like Typhoid Mary. 

It is legal for employers to require employees to be vaccinated. They should, just as many administer drug tests, and won’t hire those who fail.

All government entities — from Joe Biden to Jim Kenney — should require that anyone paid by the public be vaccinated to protect the public. If union rules don’t permit that, then do what California is doing — demand the unvaccinated wear masks, and take weekly COVID tests. Perhaps segregate them in the workplace. 

Airlines, trains, buses ought to require vaccination to get on board.

Department stores, restaurants, entertainment and sports venues should require proof of vaccination — or demand that the unvaccinated wear masks. We must attach a price to their “freedom” to decline vaccination. 

We already do this with children who must prove they are vaccinated to be able to attend school.

Since reason doesn’t work, maybe treating the witless like pariahs will. 

Put the burdens on the witless.