Pandemic privilege: Don’t let this mindset prevail

I refuse to be a guinea pig. I won’t go first to see if it’s safe!

And if someone goes before me and declares it is safe, I will reject their conclusions because what’s true for them isn’t necessarily true for me and by that logic all should stay home except those responsible for keeping me safe.

I will fixate on the inevitability of my own death to a degree not seen since the pharaohs built the pyramids. And I will hold out for a vaccine, which might be available in 18 months, according to optimists.

But when said vaccine arrives, I won’t trust it. No guinea pigs here.

And when others take the vaccine and seemingly appear fine, I will still be suspicious until we know the long-term effects of taking it

And even if the vaccine proves safe, according to the experts it will likely do little for those who are high risk, which I believe includes me, and I refuse to be sacrificial!

But no matter what, I insist on being paid in full for not working. Just because I’m not essential doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be treated like I am.

This story was originally published August 15, 2020 at 12:06 PM with the headline "Pandemic privilege: Don’t let this mindset prevail."