Google delays workers’ return to office, mandates vaccines

https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-technology-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-3d1445717752d238d379af8c565b4283

15 6 5 years ago

Although I have all my vaccines and "believe" in their effectiveness and general safety, I am very much against mandating vaccines broadly across our society, whether in public services (like schools, colleges) or private companies. I feel it violates our fundamental right to health privacy and bodily autonomy. Everyone has different personal assessments of risks and benefits, levels of trust in private companies that supply vaccines, levels of trust in governmental agencies that certify treatments, and so on. I feel individuals should be allowed to exercise judgment based on those personal assessments, and that freedom is best retained at the individual level.

I get the argument that vaccines may prevent spreading to others, but I view viruses as a 'background event' like the weather, and don't think one individual should be coerced to undergo a medical procedure to protect another individual. I think those who fear the risks should manage their own risks as individuals, and either wear appropriate clothing (PPE) or limit their own public exposure. But leaving aside these philosophical debates, it seems like the CDC is also now unsure about vaccination reducing spreading, and believes that vaccinated individuals can spread the Delta variant. So why force any individual into vaccination?

myle2• 5 years ago

I feel taking a shower is an unpleasant procedure that violates my freedom on my body. If I stink, it is your problem. And most likely, I just stink and I won't make you sick.

throwawaysea2• 5 years ago

That's a good example that breaks my argument, and to be honest, I don't have a great argument against it that would remain principled. But instinctively I somehow feel like a requirement around hygiene is more reasonable than a requirement around vaccination. Maybe it is because taking a shower is just using water, whereas vaccines are opaque, manufactured substances that emerge from organizations with their own (profit) motives? I am not sure but will need to think about it more.

greenyoda• 5 years ago

Discussion of original source: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27986106

And another big discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27986160

Google delays workers’ return to office, mandates vaccines

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