Go get it

We’re talking about the coronavirus vaccine, of course.
— or —
The coronavirus itself.
When it comes to herd immunity — which has always been the goal to ultimately defeat Covid-19 — it doesn’t matter which method of exposure to the virus you choose, the time to get exposed is now.
As shocking as that may sound, we have reached the stage of the pandemic where the government and most scientific experts have agreed that the health choice you make is strictly yours. 
You are completely free to make that choice based upon your belief in the best way to protect yourself and your family from the coronavirus, and for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began, you are not being asked to take specific steps to protect others as well.
That is true when it comes to whether or not you get one of the coronavirus vaccines, and it is also true in regards to whether or not you choose to wear a mask. President Biden made that clear when this response was posted to the White House Twitter account after the CDC announced that fully vaccinated individuals could resume most indoor and outdoor activities without masking or social distancing.
“Big news from the CDC: If you’re fully vaccinated, you do not need to wear a mask — indoors or outdoors, in most settings. We’ve gotten this far. Whether you choose to get vaccinated or wear a mask, please protect yourself until we get to the finish line.”
We certainly hope individuals will protect themselves from the coronavirus by either getting vaccinated or continuing to wear a mask when they can’t social distance — and strongly encourage readers to receive one of the three available vaccinations as we believe that is the safest and most effective way to protect yourself and your family.
But if you choose to take a pass on the vaccine and also throw your mask away, at this stage of the pandemic that really is your choice too, and the Administration made that clear when they urged Americans to “protect yourself until we get to the finish line.”
After more than a year of argument over whether or not we had a responsibility as individuals to wear a mask and social distance and (more recently) to get vaccinated against the virus to protect ourselves and others, the only collective effort required of American citizens now is to “get to the finish line.” 
The finish line has always been herd immunity — and the race we are running is to achieve herd immunity before a vaccine-resistant variant is formed or winter returns to give new life to the dying
 pandemic.
While we certainly aren’t unfurling a “Mission Accomplished” banner over the coronavirus yet, we should celebrate the fact that the pandemic has been subdued to the point where individuals are truly free to make their own health decisions without the need to worry about the impacts on others.
And the best way to celebrate is by enjoying the freedom of to finally mind our own business and not judge others in regards to the choices they make when it comes to vaccinating, masking or social distancing.
So if you have gotten vaccinated or plan to do so soon, we applaud your choice.
If you are apprehensive about the vaccine for any reason and want to continue to wear a mask and social distance until herd immunity is achieved, we respect that choice.
And if you believe the best choice for you and your family this summer is to skip the vaccine, toss the masks and take your chances with the virus, then we share your relief in the fact that the choice to do so is now completely yours.
The coronavirus pandemic has not ended yet, but the need to disagree over how people should protect themselves from it has.