So my office is examining requiring people to come back to work now that vaccines are readily available. I have been coming into the office, sans vaccine, but following the other guidelines. I was asked informally if I was getting the vaccine, said no. they said thats fine for now, but they may require it in the future, but they were still working things out.
knowing how my office works, even though they asked yesterday, they are probably going to make the requirements known here in the next two weeks. I would say next week but spring break.
So anyway, I sent this email to my boss:
Boss Lady,
After our talk about *Louder's employer* potential upcoming changes with regards to coming into the office I wanted to share my reasoning.
As I stated I have not, and have no immediate plans, to get the vaccine. The FDA has still only approved the vaccines under emergency conditions. I do not plan on getting the vaccine, until it receives full approval. Once a vaccine receives full approval, I will get it, I have no preference on which. My age and group is not at risk and as such I don’t believe there is any way to construe that I am facing an emergency that justifies taking an unproven vaccine.
COVID-19 Provisional Counts - Weekly Updates by Select Demographic and Geographic Characteristics
6000 total deaths
COVID-19 Stats: COVID-19 Incidence, by Age Group...
This says 250 cases of covid per 100,000 in my age group (25-44). Applying the cases there have been 825,000 covid cases in my age. That assumes all of the cases have been caught, which according to the CDC is not the case. But going off those numbers Covid kills less than 1% (.7%) of my age group who get Covid, again assuming all cases are caught. In reality that number is even lower.
As such, I say again I don’t believe my situation justifies an emergency.
We have also seen the CDC’s guidelines in regards to Covid shift over time. We have seen a number of changes in their stances on masks, social distancing, schools, offices, restaurants, etc change. So, I don’t believe this is a relatively settled science. In fact states that are not following guidelines have not seen marked increases in cases. Georgia has never had a state wide mask mandate nor many of the other measures in the CDC guidelines. Other states like Texas have seen similar patterns.
COVID Data Tracker Based on the CDC’s own data, not following their guidelines has not shown any statistical negative differences. Based on the ever changing nature of the guidelines, and real world examples, I don’t believe I am causing undue harm or risk to anyone if I don’t vaccinate and work around those who are, or aren’t.
I am personally willing to work in the office, I come in two days a week already. I would be comfortable working in the office full time. I am fine with people knowing that I am not vaccinated. I would actually prefer that my coworkers know that so they can make their own decisions regarding their interactions with me. That being said I respect *LouderVols Employer's* right to dictate the conditions in the office. I have abided by the mask and social distancing rules, as well as maintaining my own personal hygiene, and taking precautions outside of the office. I will continue to do so in the future as necessary. As *LouderVol's employers* leadership makes decisions about the future of the office I feel it is important to let my stance be known, I am comfortable with this email being shared and having further conversations about my stance as needed.