On the fence about getting vaccinated against COVID-19? Here are five more reasons why I think you should consider vaccination ::
For small business owners
Part of the reason many small business owners are having a hard time finding employees is because there is a childcare crisis. If there is an increase in vaccinations, perhaps moms can enter back into the workforce. Seems logical, right? If there needs to be a mandatory school / business / event center closure due to COVID, small businesses will have an issue running their business without employees. The last thing anyone wants is for more small businesses to have to shut down permanently.
For our schools
I believe there wouldn’t be such a fear of the unknown with the upcoming school year if more people were vaccinated. Let’s also add in daycares that follow the school schedule / closures. Teachers, if you are concerned, talk amongst yourselves or with your administration. My personal opinion (and a play on Kanye’s Jesus Walks) is the way kids need school is the way I need Jesus. It’s essential.
For hair salons (and barber shops too)
Really, this goes for any service industry-related job. These are not classified correctly, in my opinion. Hair salons AND hairstylists are essential. I want to make it clear – all of them – the ones that take walk-ins, the ones where appointments are required, the ones where any service is rendered – clearly these are essential folks who are using them, right? The person-to-person interactions that happen within the walls of these establishments are absolutely essential. Don’t get me started with the scandals that ensued with these places closed – I am looking at you home stylists, you don’t even have to admit you existed. Oh and we kind of can’t afford for the price on these to increase AGAIN – you know how much a kid or adult cut increased after the lockdown?
For the price gouging
Why are school supplies slated to be so expensive? Whew. Historically (pre-COVID), I adopted a teacher and bought school supplies for their classroom since I don’t have a school-aged child. Well, how are parents going to afford supplies? Y’all. I am pretty sure these school teachers would like to have those boxes of Kleenex and Clorox wipes.
For our local government
How are the city & parish councils going to implement the use of the Cares Act funds? Does anyone else miss the town hall meetings that existed pre-COVID? How are you going to spend the money if you don’t have healthy employees or employees quarantined for extended periods of time?
Don’t even get me on my soapbox about the Saints and lack of fans in the Superdome if we have a mask mandate or lockdown again.
For the love of our local economy, schools, educators, and fellow neighbors, please help mitigate the risk of another lockdown.
