My first reaction is surprise that you are not begging your parents to move. What you describe is a toxic environment.
I have only known your father through Twitter for about 18 months. I would like to reflect to you how I see him. He takes every issue of interest without an agenda and with seriousness and intelligence. He has the ability to look at an issue like a multi-faceted diamond, turning it this way and that, to make sure he sees every side. It is why so many trust his analyses. I don’t want to pull the age card, but some of us remember things like the Tuskegee experiments and understand that governments do not always have our best interests in mind. What is being pushed on young adults has the possibility of being life altering, and has been for many who have not done well. I would encourage you to look at your father not as the denier of what you want but as one who has done some of the best in-depth research and has found the risks are far too many, some which may not be known for years, for a daughter he loves beyond measure. The best parents want everything for their kids yet he is willing to face your displeasure. That alone might tell you how bad these shots are.
You may want to think about reaching out to other unvaccinated kids. My guess is their parents love them as much as yours. And, for certain, they aren’t SJWs 🙂
Very well written. The kid has talent. Must be adopted. :) But mostly it shows tons of character that she will express herself like that.
I hate to tell her, but being 13 SUUUUUUCKS. Always has, always will. The vaccine is just your version of "well my parents won't let me watch MTV" Or "my parents won't let me play video games" or.....
This too shall pass, young lady. When you're 23, you'll realize that your parents are the smartest people on the planet.
First, your parents can't be all bad if they encouraged you to air your grievances on a public forum like this. I think it's hard for young teens to understand what is going on- you are being blocked from full information. My 13 year old daughter caught covid (it lasted about 1.5 days and consisted of a headache with a sore throat). Now she has lasting immunity. Her older brother was mandated to get it for college- he was MUCH sicker from the shot. He had 105.3 fever and he had to lay in cold bath with extra strength tylenol and advil for 2.5 hours until his fever came down below 104 or we would need to go to the hospital. He still had a fever for a further 9 days and felt unwell for 14 days. A young male like him has a 1 in roughly 6,000 chance of getting hospitalized for myocarditis from the shots and only 1 in 25,000 for being hospitalized for the virus itself. Now in addition, we know the vaccines do not offer lasting immunity and there are concerns that the N- antibodies are affected and could lead to vaccine receivers to get covid repeatedly, whereas natural immunity could give you long lasting immunity. Please listen to your parents, they are acting in your best interest.
Below is a discussion about people who got the vaccine before catching covid.
I totally get her feelings, but it is amazing how this sentiment is completely regional. In my TX town, no child that I know is shunned for vax status. Ever. No one even asks. I don’t get asked. I don’t mask anywhere anymore. My child has never worn a mask, not even once. This WHOLE TIME. Her desire to “just get the vax” is based on societal pressures and LIES. Proof that propaganda works and works well. And it is sick that people put that onto children. Sick.
Brilliantly expressed. Thank you daughter of Gummi, it's nice to hear what you actually think instead of what other adults kids your age think. I really appreciate it.
Also, this whole nightmare is so unnecessary it makes me want to weep. I hope people come to their senses sooner than later, because, you, Gummi's daughter, do not deserve this.
To the young author: well done. Your courage to post something like this knowing that your audience (strangers on the internet) might vehemently disagree with you is admirable. If you manage to keep this courage for the rest of your life, you will always be miles ahead of any of your peers.
I've had friends get the vax for the same reasons you list wanting to get it. They didn't really think they needed the vax for any medical reasons; they just wanted to get back to normal life. I don't blame them; I don't call them "communist" or "brainwashed"; etc. But I won't lie to you—even though I will treat them the same way regardless of their choices, the fact remains that they buckled under pressure and took the easy way out. They came out from this battle as the conquered, not the conquerors. They got the worse end of the bargain. They lost.
Please don't misunderstand me. This is not a judgement on them. For many, this is a far tougher battle for them than it is for me. They did it to keep their job, or to keep caring for loved ones, etc. There are plenty of reasons, reasons that I would even call good, for getting it. I don't claim to know what the battle was like for my friends. But I can say that from an objective standpoint, they surrendered (i.e., lost.)
I can only claim responsibility for what I choose to do in my fight. For me right now, I suffer some inconveniences for not surrendering yet. I can't go to restaurants, many public events, or movies. I haven't lost my job yet, but I'm limited in what jobs I can apply for at this point. I cannot visit loved ones in long term care facilities. The last point is by far the saddest and most hurtful consequence so far.
But for me, I'm not at my limit yet. I'm still fighting because preventing a future where this kind of policy grows and expands for myself and my children is more important than even the tough consequences I've been forced to endure listed above.
I don't know the full story, but I know your parents have made a similar choice. They have their reasons. You may not agree with all of their reasons now, but I encourage you to reflect on how fortunate you are to have parents that will fight for you, and how they will remain on your side even as your peers seem to be turning on you for a decision that is not your fault at all.
I humbly suggest to you that blaming your parents in this case is blaming the wrong people. Those that are judging you, mocking you, and excluding you for something that isn't even your fault are the ones to blame. I would advise moving on from them before you move on from your parents. If your friends turn on you for this, they're not really your friends. They just want to control you to validate their own fragile egos.
Once you give up control over your own body to please others there's no end to it.
Eventually the most healthy people realize that a life lived to please other people is an unfulfilling life. Sadly some never learn. It doesn't matter what other people think- learn to make your own choices based on what's right.
It's empowering to stand strong, especially against something as inherently evil as coercing people to undertake ANY medical procedure. There's a reason medical ethicists have been uniformly against this (until covid) ever since the Nazi's.
Full disclosure- I'm of an age that I CHOSE to get vaccinated, because I felt it was the lower risk for me. It's mind bogglingly insane for children to be vaxed unless they have some severe underlying health condition.
It sounds like there is a lot of pressure to get vaccinated where you live. My heart hurts for you and other kids who are experiencing this kind of pressure. While I know it is not very comforting sometimes, trust your parents. Sometimes it might feel like you are the only one, but there is an army of parents who feel just like your parents. We are speaking out for our kids all over the country.
Thank you for taking the time to write this. Clearly, your dad loves and respects you.
This is a strange, weird time for all of us...but especially for young people. I agree with your parents's decision about the vaccines. Young, healthy children and adults simply do not need them. We've learned over the past few months that the vaccines are failing rapidly. Did you know that fully vaccinated people age 30 and older in the UK actually have a higher rate of infection? Your friends and their parents will soon face the choice to take a third injection and maybe more injections after that. How many boosters is too many? How often is too often?
The problem lies with your friends' parents and your community at large. You are not a danger to them. They have lost perspective on this virus, reality, and their humanity.
I have a young adult daughter. She's not vaccinated but many of her friends are. It's not an issue between them. She does not...and has never...felt any pressure from them. She will have to take weekly tests for work starting next month. It's stupid and unnecessary but better than being forced to take an experimental injection that she doesn't need or want. If she is mandated, she will quit her job. We fully support her decision, and we will support her financially if necessary.
We live NW of Philadelphia is a deep blue county, but life is more normal here than in other deep blue areas. I've read through the comments. I agree with the people who recommend moving to a more sane and open part of the country. Of course, big moves aren't always possible...and you probably don't want to leave your home and school and friends. The attitudes and irrational fear of the people who live in your community are your problem..not your parents who love you and are trying to protect you.
What are your honest answers to the following questions:
- Do I need a vaccine to protect me from the virus?
- Do I need a vaccine to protect others from catching the virus from me?
- Do the vaccines work and for how long?
- Do I want to take a booster every six months or so to hang out with friends?
- Do I understand the risk of these vaccines and am I willing to risk my health or my life?
My answers:
As a healthy, young woman you are at low risk from this virus.
Asymptomatic transmission is not a real driver of infection, and you can't give someone a virus you don't have. In fact, fully vaccinated people are more likely to transmit the virus because they can be infected with high viral loads and minimal or no symptoms (they don't know they're sick).
The vaccines don't protect from infection or transmission for very long. The protection against severe disease also drops over time.
I assume you...like most people...do not want an injection every six months just to hang out with friends or go to the mall.
I actually recommended that your father show you some tough love and make you watch and read stories about vaccine adverse events in young people, so you would understand the risk. There is one young girl your age who was injured in the trials. You should know that these vaccines have a higher rate of injury and death recorded in the Vaccine Adverse Event System (VAERS) than all vaccines combined going back decades and that teenagers have died.
We don't know what the long-term consequences of these injections will be for any of the people who've taken them. We should be able to trust the public health and government officials charged with the pandemic response, but the truth is that we cannot. This is a scary time for all of us.
Friends will come and go. Your family is forever. Your parents are trying to protect you.
Having four daughters myself, I feel for you Gummi. If that is her real day to day experience (and not just the social media version), you need to move right now. Move to Florida or Texas (or a more rural part of other states) where this does not happen. I’m in Az and my 16 year old does not experience this at her school or with her friends. If she did I would move in a second (or at least change schools). Move to a place that better reflects your values. Good luck.
I can’t say that I would feel any differently in your position. The risks appear to be so small and the social punishment so extreme. But whatever risks there are, they are very serious - life and death serious. I also suspect that many more risks will appear in the future and at some point you will be glad that your parents chose to protect you. In your parents eyes, there is no upside to putting your life and health at risk. Imagine how they would feel if they gave in and you were harmed. Nobody cares more about you than they do - nobody.
I year is a long time when you are young. But I cannot understand any other parents ostracising a child based on a vaccine. There is effectively no difference between either choice. They are just misinformed. But of course they al want everyone to be in the ship they are in in case it sinks.
your daughter shares your wit. Her choice is a social one, but does she understand the possible ramifications of the present COVID vaccines, should the conspiracy theorists turn out to be correct?
Discrimination sucks. I’m currently in the unvaxxed camp and it hurts to be refused service and turned away from businesses like I’m a dirty beggar. But at least I can change my status by doing what the cdc wants if it gets too bad. 100 years ago I would be discriminated against because of my Jewish heritage and I wouldn’t be able to change that. Discrimination is evil.
I remember 13, too many decades ago, not a fun age. The kids have been traumatized for over a year and a half, but lied too by those who are supposed to be teaching them. Your parents love you very much and do not want you to be harmed by shots that have no long term testing what so ever. We have never been asked to put an immune system altering drug into our bodies much less ordered by mostly elderly people who fear for themselves. Young people who are in good heath need have no fear of this virus at this point. This pandemic is harming those who are seriously unhealthy, super over weight, have diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure and most often need to have 2 or 3 of these health issues. Many of us in our 60s and heathy are not worried. In 10 yrs you will be happy you did not put this into your body, thats about how long it will take to start seeing all of the harm this drug has done. Check out how many pharmaceuticals are recalled every year because of side effects, check stats on pharmaceutical companies pay outs to drugs they lied about that have harmed so many people over the years.
My first reaction is surprise that you are not begging your parents to move. What you describe is a toxic environment.
I have only known your father through Twitter for about 18 months. I would like to reflect to you how I see him. He takes every issue of interest without an agenda and with seriousness and intelligence. He has the ability to look at an issue like a multi-faceted diamond, turning it this way and that, to make sure he sees every side. It is why so many trust his analyses. I don’t want to pull the age card, but some of us remember things like the Tuskegee experiments and understand that governments do not always have our best interests in mind. What is being pushed on young adults has the possibility of being life altering, and has been for many who have not done well. I would encourage you to look at your father not as the denier of what you want but as one who has done some of the best in-depth research and has found the risks are far too many, some which may not be known for years, for a daughter he loves beyond measure. The best parents want everything for their kids yet he is willing to face your displeasure. That alone might tell you how bad these shots are.
You may want to think about reaching out to other unvaccinated kids. My guess is their parents love them as much as yours. And, for certain, they aren’t SJWs 🙂
Very well written. The kid has talent. Must be adopted. :) But mostly it shows tons of character that she will express herself like that.
I hate to tell her, but being 13 SUUUUUUCKS. Always has, always will. The vaccine is just your version of "well my parents won't let me watch MTV" Or "my parents won't let me play video games" or.....
This too shall pass, young lady. When you're 23, you'll realize that your parents are the smartest people on the planet.
First, your parents can't be all bad if they encouraged you to air your grievances on a public forum like this. I think it's hard for young teens to understand what is going on- you are being blocked from full information. My 13 year old daughter caught covid (it lasted about 1.5 days and consisted of a headache with a sore throat). Now she has lasting immunity. Her older brother was mandated to get it for college- he was MUCH sicker from the shot. He had 105.3 fever and he had to lay in cold bath with extra strength tylenol and advil for 2.5 hours until his fever came down below 104 or we would need to go to the hospital. He still had a fever for a further 9 days and felt unwell for 14 days. A young male like him has a 1 in roughly 6,000 chance of getting hospitalized for myocarditis from the shots and only 1 in 25,000 for being hospitalized for the virus itself. Now in addition, we know the vaccines do not offer lasting immunity and there are concerns that the N- antibodies are affected and could lead to vaccine receivers to get covid repeatedly, whereas natural immunity could give you long lasting immunity. Please listen to your parents, they are acting in your best interest.
Below is a discussion about people who got the vaccine before catching covid.
https://boriquagato.substack.com/p/original-antigenic-sin
I totally get her feelings, but it is amazing how this sentiment is completely regional. In my TX town, no child that I know is shunned for vax status. Ever. No one even asks. I don’t get asked. I don’t mask anywhere anymore. My child has never worn a mask, not even once. This WHOLE TIME. Her desire to “just get the vax” is based on societal pressures and LIES. Proof that propaganda works and works well. And it is sick that people put that onto children. Sick.
Brilliantly expressed. Thank you daughter of Gummi, it's nice to hear what you actually think instead of what other adults kids your age think. I really appreciate it.
Also, this whole nightmare is so unnecessary it makes me want to weep. I hope people come to their senses sooner than later, because, you, Gummi's daughter, do not deserve this.
To the young author: well done. Your courage to post something like this knowing that your audience (strangers on the internet) might vehemently disagree with you is admirable. If you manage to keep this courage for the rest of your life, you will always be miles ahead of any of your peers.
I've had friends get the vax for the same reasons you list wanting to get it. They didn't really think they needed the vax for any medical reasons; they just wanted to get back to normal life. I don't blame them; I don't call them "communist" or "brainwashed"; etc. But I won't lie to you—even though I will treat them the same way regardless of their choices, the fact remains that they buckled under pressure and took the easy way out. They came out from this battle as the conquered, not the conquerors. They got the worse end of the bargain. They lost.
Please don't misunderstand me. This is not a judgement on them. For many, this is a far tougher battle for them than it is for me. They did it to keep their job, or to keep caring for loved ones, etc. There are plenty of reasons, reasons that I would even call good, for getting it. I don't claim to know what the battle was like for my friends. But I can say that from an objective standpoint, they surrendered (i.e., lost.)
I can only claim responsibility for what I choose to do in my fight. For me right now, I suffer some inconveniences for not surrendering yet. I can't go to restaurants, many public events, or movies. I haven't lost my job yet, but I'm limited in what jobs I can apply for at this point. I cannot visit loved ones in long term care facilities. The last point is by far the saddest and most hurtful consequence so far.
But for me, I'm not at my limit yet. I'm still fighting because preventing a future where this kind of policy grows and expands for myself and my children is more important than even the tough consequences I've been forced to endure listed above.
I don't know the full story, but I know your parents have made a similar choice. They have their reasons. You may not agree with all of their reasons now, but I encourage you to reflect on how fortunate you are to have parents that will fight for you, and how they will remain on your side even as your peers seem to be turning on you for a decision that is not your fault at all.
I humbly suggest to you that blaming your parents in this case is blaming the wrong people. Those that are judging you, mocking you, and excluding you for something that isn't even your fault are the ones to blame. I would advise moving on from them before you move on from your parents. If your friends turn on you for this, they're not really your friends. They just want to control you to validate their own fragile egos.
Once you give up control over your own body to please others there's no end to it.
Eventually the most healthy people realize that a life lived to please other people is an unfulfilling life. Sadly some never learn. It doesn't matter what other people think- learn to make your own choices based on what's right.
It's empowering to stand strong, especially against something as inherently evil as coercing people to undertake ANY medical procedure. There's a reason medical ethicists have been uniformly against this (until covid) ever since the Nazi's.
Full disclosure- I'm of an age that I CHOSE to get vaccinated, because I felt it was the lower risk for me. It's mind bogglingly insane for children to be vaxed unless they have some severe underlying health condition.
It sounds like there is a lot of pressure to get vaccinated where you live. My heart hurts for you and other kids who are experiencing this kind of pressure. While I know it is not very comforting sometimes, trust your parents. Sometimes it might feel like you are the only one, but there is an army of parents who feel just like your parents. We are speaking out for our kids all over the country.
Thank you for taking the time to write this. Clearly, your dad loves and respects you.
This is a strange, weird time for all of us...but especially for young people. I agree with your parents's decision about the vaccines. Young, healthy children and adults simply do not need them. We've learned over the past few months that the vaccines are failing rapidly. Did you know that fully vaccinated people age 30 and older in the UK actually have a higher rate of infection? Your friends and their parents will soon face the choice to take a third injection and maybe more injections after that. How many boosters is too many? How often is too often?
The problem lies with your friends' parents and your community at large. You are not a danger to them. They have lost perspective on this virus, reality, and their humanity.
I have a young adult daughter. She's not vaccinated but many of her friends are. It's not an issue between them. She does not...and has never...felt any pressure from them. She will have to take weekly tests for work starting next month. It's stupid and unnecessary but better than being forced to take an experimental injection that she doesn't need or want. If she is mandated, she will quit her job. We fully support her decision, and we will support her financially if necessary.
We live NW of Philadelphia is a deep blue county, but life is more normal here than in other deep blue areas. I've read through the comments. I agree with the people who recommend moving to a more sane and open part of the country. Of course, big moves aren't always possible...and you probably don't want to leave your home and school and friends. The attitudes and irrational fear of the people who live in your community are your problem..not your parents who love you and are trying to protect you.
What are your honest answers to the following questions:
- Do I need a vaccine to protect me from the virus?
- Do I need a vaccine to protect others from catching the virus from me?
- Do the vaccines work and for how long?
- Do I want to take a booster every six months or so to hang out with friends?
- Do I understand the risk of these vaccines and am I willing to risk my health or my life?
My answers:
As a healthy, young woman you are at low risk from this virus.
Asymptomatic transmission is not a real driver of infection, and you can't give someone a virus you don't have. In fact, fully vaccinated people are more likely to transmit the virus because they can be infected with high viral loads and minimal or no symptoms (they don't know they're sick).
The vaccines don't protect from infection or transmission for very long. The protection against severe disease also drops over time.
I assume you...like most people...do not want an injection every six months just to hang out with friends or go to the mall.
I actually recommended that your father show you some tough love and make you watch and read stories about vaccine adverse events in young people, so you would understand the risk. There is one young girl your age who was injured in the trials. You should know that these vaccines have a higher rate of injury and death recorded in the Vaccine Adverse Event System (VAERS) than all vaccines combined going back decades and that teenagers have died.
We don't know what the long-term consequences of these injections will be for any of the people who've taken them. We should be able to trust the public health and government officials charged with the pandemic response, but the truth is that we cannot. This is a scary time for all of us.
Friends will come and go. Your family is forever. Your parents are trying to protect you.
Having four daughters myself, I feel for you Gummi. If that is her real day to day experience (and not just the social media version), you need to move right now. Move to Florida or Texas (or a more rural part of other states) where this does not happen. I’m in Az and my 16 year old does not experience this at her school or with her friends. If she did I would move in a second (or at least change schools). Move to a place that better reflects your values. Good luck.
I can’t say that I would feel any differently in your position. The risks appear to be so small and the social punishment so extreme. But whatever risks there are, they are very serious - life and death serious. I also suspect that many more risks will appear in the future and at some point you will be glad that your parents chose to protect you. In your parents eyes, there is no upside to putting your life and health at risk. Imagine how they would feel if they gave in and you were harmed. Nobody cares more about you than they do - nobody.
I year is a long time when you are young. But I cannot understand any other parents ostracising a child based on a vaccine. There is effectively no difference between either choice. They are just misinformed. But of course they al want everyone to be in the ship they are in in case it sinks.
your daughter shares your wit. Her choice is a social one, but does she understand the possible ramifications of the present COVID vaccines, should the conspiracy theorists turn out to be correct?
A normal life shouldn’t require a vaccination. Fr fr
Discrimination sucks. I’m currently in the unvaxxed camp and it hurts to be refused service and turned away from businesses like I’m a dirty beggar. But at least I can change my status by doing what the cdc wants if it gets too bad. 100 years ago I would be discriminated against because of my Jewish heritage and I wouldn’t be able to change that. Discrimination is evil.
I remember 13, too many decades ago, not a fun age. The kids have been traumatized for over a year and a half, but lied too by those who are supposed to be teaching them. Your parents love you very much and do not want you to be harmed by shots that have no long term testing what so ever. We have never been asked to put an immune system altering drug into our bodies much less ordered by mostly elderly people who fear for themselves. Young people who are in good heath need have no fear of this virus at this point. This pandemic is harming those who are seriously unhealthy, super over weight, have diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure and most often need to have 2 or 3 of these health issues. Many of us in our 60s and heathy are not worried. In 10 yrs you will be happy you did not put this into your body, thats about how long it will take to start seeing all of the harm this drug has done. Check out how many pharmaceuticals are recalled every year because of side effects, check stats on pharmaceutical companies pay outs to drugs they lied about that have harmed so many people over the years.