Questions raise privacy concerns

DEAR AMY >> I have always been very private regarding health and medical issues.

I don’t want to discuss with friends, family, or strangers whether

I’ve had a flu shot, mammogram, colonoscopy, etc.

I find questions about these things extremely intrusive. I have always been able to dodge the questions and change the subject.

How do you suggest I respond to inquiries about whether or not I have had, or plan to get, the COVID-19 vaccine?

I’ve already found people to be extremely aggressive in demanding to know what a person’s plan is, even to the extreme of not wanting to associate with anyone who can’t satisfy their nosiness about whether they have had the shots.

I understand that this is a contagious disease, a global pandemic, and the nonstop media coverage increases the intensity of people’s reactions, but just the thought of having these pushy medical conversations makes my skin crawl.

Any thoughts?

— Mum About Medical

DEAR MUM >> I share your aversion to discussing medical issues.

However, your colonoscopy or mammogram status has absolutely no bearing or impact on anyone else’s health. Your vaccination status might.

Mainly, the vaccination protects you from the more serious illness caused by COVID. But the vaccination also helps to protect others, because if you don’t contract COVID, you won’t be spreading it.

I can imagine how annoying it would be to face aggressive questioning and implied harsh judgment about your vaccination status, but other people do have the right to make their own choice regarding how much close contact they want to have with you.

Yes, without a doubt, nosy people will use the vaccination as an excuse to pry, but if you don’t want to have an extended medical conversation, then don’t.

They ask, “When are you getting vaccinated?” You say, “I’m not sure.” They ask, “Are you planning to be vaccinated?”

You say, “I haven’t decided.”

They say, “Well, if you haven’t been vaccinated or won’t reassure me about your plan, I won’t want to spend time with you.”

You respond: “Yes, I completely understand.”

DEAR AMY >> “Hate to Ask” wanted to request that her mother’s friend split the proceeds from a mutual fund that her mother had bequeathed to him, since it had increased substantially in value.

The question she should be asked is: If the fund had gone bankrupt, would she be so eager to contact him and reallocate the inheritance by splitting her share with him?

DEAR HARRY >> Excellent logic. Thank you.