[roca]

Comparing failure to vaccinate with smoking or obesity are off the mark because it is not easy to quit smoking or overcome obesity. If there was an effective, cheap, safe and instant cure for smoking addiction or obesity and people refused to take it, societies would indeed by highly critical of those people consuming hospital resources.

[Eelongate]

Nah, it's really easy to never smoke. I've been not smoking my entire life. I think his comparison is dead on the mark. If people who choose to be unvaccinated can be vilified for taking up hospital beds, then so can people who choose to pick up a smoking habit.

[sushsjsuauahab]

It is not easy for me to vaccinate myself when I've had adverse reactions in the past.

[roca]

Sorry to hear that, but that's a small minority of people. And I hope you've talked to your doctor about it --- we're lucky with COVID to have a variety of vaccines with different makeups to choose from.

[bluefox]

You told sushsjsuauahab that he/she is a small minority of people. I'm sure that makes sushsjsuauahab and others who have their own (gasp) reasons not to get the vaccine feel better... See, it's this one-size-fits-all dictum backed by sanctions that's the problem. The vaccines help prevent sickness, but government policies hurt healthy people.

[roca]

Dunno about other countries but in NZ you can apply for medical exemption from vaccine mandates. A panel of medical professionals evaluates your situation and if they agree, you get a vaccine pass that works the same as for a vaccinated person.

[bluefox]

Sounds like a new Soviet Union.

[throwaway55421]

So you can _apply_ for permission to take part in everyday life.

Great. It's a no from me.

[Jenda_]

Some countries have chosen the other way: they left the vaccination up to people, and now nobody can take part in everyday life because of lockdowns.

[Jenda_]

To mRNA vaccines?

[coolso]

> because it is not easy to quit smoking or overcome obesity

Eat... less?

[roca]

I lean heavily into personal responsibility, but even I don't tell people struggling with addiction "have you tried NOT taking it?"

[refurb]

Why does it have to be easy?