Worst Side Effect of the Vaccine: I Am Now an Anti-Masker Republican... Kinda

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Disclaimer: Before I begin I would like to make it clear that I am not actually an anti-masker. I still wear my mask fully over my mouth and nose everywhere I go just to be safe, including outdoor locations unless I am eating. The purpose of this article is to say that I no longer want to and while prior to my vaccine I wanted to wear a mask for safety of both myself and others, now I feel no need to. But I still do! And you should too in case there is still a possibility to transfer the virus to an unvaccinated individual.

Following receiving my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, I was afraid I would spend the following day feeling absolutely terrible: chills, fevers, stomach pains, appetite loss, headache, etc. To my pleasant surprise, I was completely symptom free. I woke up the next morning without any pain, besides the inevitable slight ache in my left arm. Though I thought the possibility of side effects was gone two days following my shot, after my two week mark, I approached a far scarier side effect: I no longer wanted to wear a mask. I now feel like an anti-masker republican.


Through the entirety of the pandemic, I have maintained strict safety protocols; always wearing a mask unless inside my house, alway staying a safe distance, limiting traveling, never eating at restaurants inside, and getting COVID tests regularly. I was always certain about wearing a mask and the thought of not doing so never crossed my mind. In fact, I harshly judged those who were maskless; I would go as far as to call employees out when they were not wearing a mask at a store with masking policies and gave insufficient tips to servers, who despite mandatory mask mandates, neglected to wear the protective gear. I frowned upon people wearing a mask under their nose and questioned how people could neglect these small but important health sacrifices for both themselves and others. 


But, today I find myself not wanting a mask at all. I want to rip it off my face in excitement, claiming “I AM VACCINATED AND HATE MASKS!” And while these desires run deep, I still have a few apprehensions against getting rid of the mask and showing my face to the world again. 

  1. My most logical fear is that, despite my vaccination and the decrease in COVID-19 cases in the United States, it is still not scientifically proven that I could not transmit the disease to an unvaccinated individual and cause them to be symptomatic. 

  2. My second apprehension in removing my mask comes from the fact that I am so used to it. This piece of cloth hanging from my face from two loop shaped strings has become a part of my life—of me. I coordinate my masks with my outfits and I never wear makeup below my eyes anymore because the mask neglects that need. It is almost like a blanket you have when you are a little kid; you have used it so much and it has acted as such a source of protection for you that giving it up, even though you know it is the right thing, seems impossible. I have grown attached to this safety measure and cannot imagine living without it. 

  3. By far my biggest fear in not wearing a mask is people may think I am an anti-masker-republican-rumper who does not believe in the Coronavirus and argues, “but the death rate is so low so who cares!” I cannot imagine receiving stares in the grocery store because people believe these terribly untrue things about me. I think I would rather keep my mask on.

As vaccines continue to roll out and CDC guidelines continue to dwindle, I will continue to evaluate whether masks are necessary for me. As of right now, I feel that in spaces where everyone is vaccinated, I will be maskless, but in public spaces where this fact is unknown my COVID-19 liberal symbol will remain plastered to my face. 

By Ruby Kaufman