Recently, after searching desperately for a safe, vaccinated hair stylist, I found one. I hadn’t had a haircut in over a year. It had become an unmanageable situation. Taking forever to dry my hair between spasms. Then flat ironing. Ugh.

I was shocked at how many hair dressers were not vaccinated. I received varying excuses. And that’s exactly what they are, excuses. Because barring the very rare medical exception, there is NO reason to not get vaccinated.

For me, it’s literally a matter of my mortality. I’ve received 3 doses of the Pzifer vaccine. However, as an immune suppressed patient, I’ve developed no spike protein antibodies in response to the vaccine. Leaving me unprotected. Being also immune compromised, that places me at very high risk. Both for contracting the virus as well as a very poor outcome. Meaning, death.

So, I reached out to an old hair stylist I knew. He was vaccinated. His husband (this is important) is an ICU nurse. He was happy to accommodate my needs. I went feeling confident that I would be safe. I was in for a big surprise.

Upon arrival, he came out to greet me at the car. No mask. I thought, okay, he’s outside and probably thinks he’s fine. I asked if he had a mask for in the salon. He grimaced. “But I’m vaccinated!” I explained that even though he was vaccinated, he could still be infected and an asymptomatic spreader. I further explained that I was extremely high risk and couldn’t be indoors with anyone unmasked. He actually said “If I had known I had to wear a mask, I wouldn’t have done this.” I bit my tongue. But I thought, what if your surgeon said that to you just prior to surgery? He did put on a mask. We began and it got worse.

As he began to cut my hair, he began to talk about his political beliefs. A married gay man, who was a….wait for it….Trump supporter! My head spun. How?! The very people who want to undo your very rights to be who you are and you support them? Unfortunately, 1/4 of my head was cut or I would have left.

Then it really got ridiculous. He mentioned he had read about the State Trooper vaccine mandate and how unfair it was. Now, I had to say something. These were MY rights and my health that was impacted. You want to risk your right to gay marriage? Go right ahead. But be sure to let your community know you don’t support them. However, I will NOT sit silent and allow anyone to place my life at risk.

I finally stopped him. I explained that yes, I believed that anyone who has contact with the public needs to be mandated to be vaccinated. I need to know that if I come in contact with them, I’m protected. His response? “Well, just stay home and don’t go anywhere.”

At this point my head was 3/4 cut or there may have been a stabbing by scissors.

Telling someone who has been living in solitary confinement for 20 months “Just stay home and don’t go anywhere” is quite risky. We’re ready to snap as it is. You add abject stupidity and outrageous selfishness? I don’t know that we can be held accountable for what happens next.

Here’s the big picture. And don’t take my word for it, go read actual epidemiologist’s opinions. This virus is not going away. That ship has sailed. We had an opportunity to get it under control but we missed it. And we continue to miss opportunity to control it because people refuse to simply behave responsibly.

Vaccines are safe. Again, don’t take my word for it. Go look at the numbers! With all those doses given, if it wasn’t safe, we would know! https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/international

Stop being petulant children! We know masks work. Wear one when appropriate! You’re not going to die because you have to wear a mask for a short period of time! I however, will die if I contract Covid.

Stop being selfish pricks! People like myself are entitled to also live our lives. We’re entitled to one day see a restaurant again. To go to a store again. To get a Goddamn haircut when needed. These things can’t happen if people continue to behave irresponsibly. If people don’t get vaccinated.

You want to scream and stomp your feet about your rights? What about my rights? My right to move freely and safely within my country? You do not have the right to infringe on my rights by choosing against public health. Public safety. When your choice directly impacts me and my safety, I view you as a threat. And at this point, you’re a threat to public health as well.

So why don’t we flip the discussion. You want to choose not to vaccinate? Not to wear a mask when appropriate? I suggest you just stay home and don’t go anywhere. Enjoy your isolation.

#Vaccinate