Photo Credit: Polina Tankilevitch, Pexels.com

By Zaki Abbasi

SAN JOSE, CALIF— President Joe Biden, is mandating new rules, requiring people to take the Covid-19 vaccine, whether they want it, or not. The United States has taken a heavy toll, during the devastating Covid-19 global pandemic. With the deaths of thousands of people worldwide, pharmacists and doctors made the Covid-19 Vaccine; to protect the people from coronavirus.

The mandate is the Biden administration’s most aggressive push yet, to control the ongoing spread of the coronavirus. According to whitehouse.gov, the mandate requires those unvaccinated, to get a vaccine, from either Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, etc. It justifies the move with statements like, “Further protecting the vaccinated”, “Safely opening schools [in person]”, “increasing testing and requiring masks.” This mandate has its pros and cons, for both sides of the debate. 

Currently, Democrats majorly support mandating vaccinations. But Republicans have different views. According to a baltimoresun.com article, a left-sided commentary, it’s about doubt, and distrust. “Doubt can be overcome by evidence. Distrust cannot.” The article means to show that many Republicans have distrust for the vaccine. The article continues on to tell that Republicans are fed false information on social media. Some examples of so-called, “false information” is how people believe that the coronavirus vaccine is a hoax, or that the vaccine can cause infertility, and that the vaccine is being used to implant chips and alter DNA of the U.S people. 

Democrats believe that mandating the Covid vaccine is quite simple. They also believe that it is protecting people from being affected by coronavirus, and when they are protected, they protect themselves and others from being infected. Comparing the efficiency of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, from an informational article by yalemedicine.org; both Pfizer-BioNTech, and Moderna show 95% efficiency, in terms of protecting the human body both in the lab, and in the real world. To sum up their standpoint; the vaccine is saving lives, and is efficient. 

However, Republicans have valid reasons to be reluctant and refuse the vaccine, as the vaccine comes with its own set of negatives. For example, it can have detrimental side-effects. While FDA warnings for the Pfizer vaccine only, majorly show heart inflammation, Johnson & Johnson, whose efficiency rate is at 72%, show rare cases of a neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome. This is an autoimmune disorder, where the person’s own immune system attacks it’s nervous system. This is just one example as to why the vaccine may be unsafe, and require more testing for future use.

In the end, though, it comes down to how it affects Silver Creek. East Side Union High School District has tried its very best to implement state guidelines as to how students should follow the rules. This includes having high schoolers wear masks at all times when indoors, and suggested to be kept on outside, but not mandatory. Another guideline is providing schools with necessary supplies. For example, masks, clorox wipes and hand sanitizer. Additionally, many at Silver Creek have taken the Covid vaccine. According to the cdc.gov, the Covid vaccine is recommended but not required for 14 to 18 year olds. 

Here’s what a student at Silver Creek had to say, when asked their opinion on the new vaccine mandate. The interviewee opted to remain anonymous. “I think that there is evidence that the vaccine can help protect against Covid-19; but I do respect the concern and hesitancy of those who do not want to take it. I don’t think we have to force it on anyone.” In the simplest manner, those who have taken the vaccine either had no choice, or thought that the benefits outweigh the harms. As time continues, everyone hopes that the Covid-19 situation will die down, and that adults, and kids can go back to their normal lives, without fearing for their health.