One thing I’ve been thinking a lot about lately is the anti-vax movement, which came to be as an reaction to the overly communitarian promotion of the COVID vaccine in the months after the pandemic. Getting vaccinated became a patriotic thing, it was something you did not because you didn’t want to get sick but because it would save the lives of the elderly and disabled.

It may very well be good to save the lives of the elderly and disabled. Many are inevitably very nice, good decent people. But at what cost? Getting vaccinated isn’t free in sense of your own time and motor fuel, it certainly hurts, and there is some risk — though probably the risk of dying in a car crash on way to the pharmacy far exceeds the risk of sickness after getting the jab.

I’ve never thought vaccines should be required or thought of as a way to build herd immunity or keep your community safe. But I do think they are worthwhile, because who wants to get to sick, stay home from work bed-ridden or spend costly time in the hospital? While I’m sure protecting the elderly and disabled is a noteworthy goal, keeping oneself healthy is a most worthy goal. There is no need to have a parade for those who get vaccinated, but you should consider getting your flu and COVID shots, and any other recommended vaccines like TDAP because who wants to get the whooping cough?

Vaccines are a lot like voting. Truth is the risk for most people getting the whooping cough, COVID or flu in any particular year is low, but vaccines are considered free, preventative maintenance for one’s health under most plans. Voting in most cases won’t change election outcomes, but sometimes it does. But it’s cheap, in most cases about the same cost as getting vaccinated, or these days with Early Mail Voting even slightly cheaper as you can do it from home.

I don’t like patriotism or community spirit as a motivator to take individual action. But I do think enlightened self-interest is important, and you should do things that are right for yourself and your family. Both voting and vaccination should be very inexpensive in time and cost, as their benefit for most in cases will be fairly minimal, but they do offset a large risk and can do often make a difference around the edges.