The Silent Contract: How Millennials are Dominating Today's Vaccine Appointments
So far, not even 16% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Despite this slim minority, it isn't enough to deter those in least need of it: Millennials in their 20's. Undaunted and hustling, Millennials are taking advantage of a loophole in the vaccine requirements to book up reservations. Come midnight when reservations slots are refreshed, multiple devices are opened and constantly refreshed. Once a vaccination window pops up, they quickly reserve a convenient spot and secure it under the pretense of a 16+ year old with an ''underlying condition.'' Now, under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) federal law prohibits health services requesting proof of sensitive medical information, therefor there's no need to worry of proving your ominously acquired condition. Simply arrive at your appointed date and location, one prick in the arm, and finito! You're done.
A friend of mine had recently acquired one of these ominous conditions and received their first dose 3 weeks ago. They regaled me with a visual of the long line ahead of them, all waiting to receive their vaccination. The visual they described: a long line predominately made up of white millennials in their 20's and early 30's. Because if Covid were to strike at a moment's notice, it would be members of this community that would be most at risk..
But wait, surely there are reasons for justifying the motives of these ambitious 20-something year olds, right? Of course there are. However, each one of them fails to hold a candle to the true reason. That reason is what I call the ''Silent Contract.'' Don't tell me how you really got the vaccine, but instead say it was because of your ''job,'' and I'll do the same.
The first and most frequent justification I hear from 20-something Millennials is their concern for their parent's health. However, this justification immediately collapses due to many of these younglings receiving their first dose before either, sometimes both of their parents. Looks like mom and dad will have to wait for the next available slot. From the point of view of these concerned offspring, perhaps they justify this given the lesser burden of securing a single spot for themselves, as opposed to reserving two for their parents. But hey, should either parent contract the virus before their chance to be vaccinated, at least their child will be immune from blame.
These Millennials concern doesn't stop at their parents, but some in their generosity extend it to the general public as well. That's right, another provided justification is concern for public health as a whole. If one less crowd-prone Millennial is vaccinated, the general public is that much less at risk. Sadly, this sentiment is proven insincere when attitudes towards being vaccinated among Millennials are viewed more along the lines of getting the latest iPhone, and not mitigating the rate of infection to the public. Shame the latter motive is not the case, otherwise concern for public welfare might be the hottest item on the market.
A third justification readied to retort any shaming is coming clean. If the first two justifications haven't already been said, there are some who acknowledge outright that they've reserved a spot ahead of those greater in need. This is a vain attempt to mitigate any shame that may be weighed on their conscious. However, simply acknowledging the act of taking advantage of the vaccine loophole frees up no degree of accountability that should be had. At most, brownie points can be had for the candor. Despite the satisfaction that comes with their accumulation, brownie points can't be traded for fair play. The currency for that trade is patience. And for those who've yet to be vaccinated and are in the greatest need, they are running out of it.
A final justification, and perhaps the weakest of them all is receiving the vaccine through one's ''job.'' To be clear, there have been plenty of those who've qualified for the vaccine due to their employment. However, the number of Millennials who claim to work in the public health field or have frontline worker status is exasperated. I'm sure many of us can name a friend or two who've used this route to secure a vaccine appointment. No one wants to be stuck on the waitlist to receive their first dose, but if there's any community who can bear the wait time, it's Millennials in their 20's. Hopefully the reasons for this are obvious.
These are the justifications conveniently offered in defense of the ''Silent Contract.'' On their face, however, they are vain excuses to cash in on the hottest commodity currently on the market. They're the key to claiming the E-Z Pass to return to crowded bars and the social lives we've been deprived for the past 12 months. Once that time returns, no one will be the wiser.
