A Love Letter From Your Unvaccinated Friend

“Hi, I’m Jessica, and I have not received the Covid vaccine and do not plan to in the future.”

I realize by saying this publicly, I have opened up myself along with my family to scrutiny, discrimination, and judgment. I know there will be a disclaimer popped on this post because of the words mentioned here. I would like everyone to take a deep breath and relax. This isn’t how we started.

I started blogging nine years ago and, in those years, I have shared my weight struggle, breaking my son of his pacifier habit, choosing a school for my Kindergartner, taking kids to the beach, on road-trips, Black Friday shopping, turning 40, and many more- almost 100 personal stories from yours truly. I have connected with readers in person that have related to my blogs. It so flattering and humbling to impact people’s lives with my words. It has allowed me many new opportunities, – including numerous local news segments and even some airtime on Howard Stern for my April Fools Day antics. I’m sure you’re asking- what’s the point of your trip down memory lane, Jes? Hold on, I’m getting there.

In the Spring of 2020, none of us could have predicted what was happening to the world,- we all dealt with the stress of illness and isolation in different ways. Lots of us became home bakers, plant hoarders, as well as Tiger King & Hamilton addicts. Some of us started to question things, and therein is where the divide began.

I am here to simply state that me, and your other unvaccinated friends, are the same people we were in March of 2020. There are many reasons why I have remained unvaccinated. The main reason is that I have had the virus and recovered. I believe in natural immunity and have seen it play out in my situation. I am aware that the data regarding natural immunity is conflicting- but again, I am speaking for myself and decisions I am making as an adult. Also, I believe that the potential side effects from the vaccine far outweigh the risks from the actual virus. I believe that personal medical decisions are just that- personal. I’m still the fat, funny blogger that I have always been. I hate that the world has divided us so and we feel the need to put a vaccination status above everything.

I am absolutely fine with my friends being vaccinated. I work with vaccinated people, vacation with them, and even hug them. Vaccines are a personal choice. But I do not agree with forcing someone to put something in their body that they don’t want there. That’s as simple as I can say it.

We are your neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family. We laugh at the same jokes, watch the same bad TV as you, and drink way too much coffee. We just have made a different medical decision than you.

I’ve read many, many online posts from Moms about giving each other grace and embracing our differences,- and especially loving our kids unconditionally without judgment. I’ll continue to love my people hard and reserve the judgment for things like wearing white after Labor Day.

I hope I have given you a little perspective from the other side. We are all Moms, doing the best we can, with the information we have at the time.

Please be nice to each other. If the last 20 months have shown us anything, it is that our lives can change instantly, and that is shorter than we think. I still love you, we all still love you.

Love,
Your non-hugging unvaxxed friend