Vaccine etiquette: Finessing the new halfway-to-normal
As the share of Americans who’ve been vaccinated rises, “expectations around social interactions are changing—and nobody knows how to navigate them,” said Anne Marie Chaker in The Wall Street Journal. “It’s often not clear who has been vaccinated and who hasn’t, and many people are between vaccines.” The uncertainty can lead to awkward conversations, because we usually allow others privacy about personal health matters. “No one is obligated to tell you their Covid-19 vaccine status,” said Destinee Scott in Prevention.com. People will be more apt to share, however, if you reveal your own vaccination status first, and if you preface a query with “I hope you don’t mind me asking….” It can also help to explain why you want to know (e.g., “I’m trying to decide when to wear a mask”). If you’re planning a get-together, ask guests one-on-one and in advance, either with a carefully worded text or a phone call if you prefer having more control over the tenor of your question.
If an unvaccinated friend or family member wants to visit, “don’t feel obligated,” said Teddy Amenabar and Allyson Chiu in The Washington Post. It’s your home, after all. Still, “work with your loved ones to think of ways to maintain connectedness,” such as outdoor meetups. Parents scheduling playdates for their children should feel free to ask other parents if members of the household have been vaccinated. “But be clear about why you’re asking,” giving reasons for your caution, and offer suggestions that would make you feel more comfortable, such as “We may need to move the playdate outside.” If you wish to host a dinner or other social event, provide your invited guests with useful context, such as the number of people who’ll attend and whether the gathering will be indoors or outdoors. “As the host, you are inviting a conversation about health and safety. If you are not ready to have those conversations with guests, then you are not ready to host.”
If you are worried about attending an upcoming wedding, said Kelsey Borresen in HuffingtonPost.com, “it’s totally fine to RSVP no.” Just respond as promptly as possible and show your support by sending a gift and congratulatory card. Wedding hosts shouldn’t feel guilty about requiring masks or vaccinations, said Shawne Wickham in the New Hampshire Union Leader. And guests shouldn’t resent their hosts for doing so. The hosts, after all, “have a responsibility to protect their own health and that of their guests.” Whatever the social situation, says etiquette expert Daniel Post Senning, some rules don’t change. “Just be prepared,” he says, “to communicate, to be flexible, to respect where other people are coming from.”