Glad friends are getting vaccinated

Dear Carolyn: I don’t know how to deal with my feelings about how the COVID19 vaccinations are rolling out. I have a very close group of friends, none of whom are high-risk. A couple have managed to get vaccinated through what I think is some level of abuse of privilege. One is a doctor, but hasn’t seen a live patient or stepped into a store since March, but qualified for a vaccine because she’s affiliated with a hospital that offered them. Another also-fully-remote worker, who does not leave the house, lives in a state that allows the public to volunteer at vaccination centers and offers them a vaccine.

I’m conflicted because ideally I think everyone who wants to should be able to get vaccinated right now as doses sit on shelves. But something about these specific stories isn’t sitting right with me.

I’ve reacted by just not participating in this group’s conversations, but is there a better way? — Anonymous

Dear Anonymous: Yes. Release it. Let go of any sense of responsibility for individual outcomes like this. Tell your friends, “Good for you,” and be glad for each micro-step toward collective immunity that isn’t slam-dunk-grotesquely entitled: bit.ly/VxFakers.

The rules are the rules and neither you nor your friends made them. When the rules serve up a legitimate opportunity, it makes sense to take it.

You are certainly entitled not to, in hopes that your dose will go to someone you believe needs it more.

But neither you nor your friends would have any say in who gets the shots you turn down, if anyone, so who’s to say your sacrifice serves a greater good?