My parents are complete opposites on the political spectrum, with my father leaning more liberal and my mother leaning more conservative. Since the vaccine became available, I have witnessed countless arguments between my parents with constant pressure on both of them on whether or not I should get the vaccine. Dad got the Pfizer vaccine in January and wants me and my sister to get it as well. Mom says vaccine is dangerous and risky for us to get, since the vaccine is still in clinical trials and long term side effects have not been confirmed.

My appointment for my first dose was on May 14th of this year, and after a week from hearing both sides from my parents, I decided to wait until I know it is safe for me and my sister. I originally wanted to get the vaccine so that I could travel and no longer have to wear a mask as well as to please my dad, but my gut feeling told me that I should wait. About two days before my appointment, mask mandates for fully vaccinated people were removed, but in early August they were put back in place at my university. As of now, this is the primary reason why I am glad I didn't get the vaccine since I would be forced to wear a mask either way. I cannot tolerate wearing a mask like this and feel like I am touring a radioactive power plant. I hate seeing everyone wearing masks all the time and do not believe that ordinary asymptomatic people should be forced to wear masks just to enter public buildings. These ridiculous face masks need to become a thing of the past!

Even though I know there are many benefits of getting the vaccine, I do not feel comfortable getting it, knowing of the constantly growing stories about people getting nasty side effects after getting it, or worse dying from it. I am not willing to take this risk, especially considering that one you get vaccinated, it cannot be undone. If this vaccine was so safe and effective, then why are so many people across the world questioning or opposing it?

Since neither me, my mom, or my sister are planning on getting the vaccine any time soon, my dad confiscated our car keys and won't let us interact with anyone who isn't fully vaccinated. My dad had originally threatened that he wouldn't pay my college tuition if I didn't get the vaccine, but since I am taking all my courses online this semester he withdrew the threat. However, I will need to take some in person classes this spring and am anxious about how my dad will react if I still decide not to get the vaccine. This statewide vaccine mandate will only make my situation worse, considering that my father has us falsely imprisoned in our house. He says he is doing all this for our safety, but I personally think he is acting like a pure tyrant. The same way I don't want my father to dictate how often I go out of whom I interact with, I do not want the government restricting our freedoms just because of a vaccine or a piece of cloth.

I just want things to back to the way they were before the middle of March 2020. No one, including the government, has the right to force anyone to wear a mask, maintain social distance, or get a vaccine for any reason. People are waking up and realizing the utter rubbish that has been going on in our government since this pandemic began, and the corrupt people in charge of such insane and horrid mandates need to be put in their place!