I was using the word “inconvenience” in a broad way, to include bars closed, schools closed, indoor dining restricted or closed, required testing to travel, quarantines, inability to have in-person activities (like court trials, board meetings, etc), and even being required to wear a mask to see your doctor, or fly 12 hours. Broadly, when we had no ability to prevent disease, we needed to do these things to protect ourselves and others. It was, IMO, a moral responsibility. However, when we DO have the ability to prevent disease, I do not believe we have amoral responsibility to protect those that CHOOSE not to avail themselves of the ability to prevent disease.
That’s not to say you may CHOOSE to wear a mask, or socially distance, if you want to. I’m speaking of legal requirements to do so. If you own a retail business and WANT to reduce capacity, that’s fine. But you should not be required to do so because some people refuse to be vaccinated.
The question was not directed to “right now,” it was directed to that time when all that want to be vaccinated have been or had the opportunity to be vaccinated. My guess is that’s early summer.
I also base my view on the understanding and belief that the tools now available — the three vaccines approved in the US — are 100% effective at eliminating death and hospitalization from COVID. In other words, they effective diminish the seriousness of COVID and make it, in the WORST case, akin to but even less risk than the flu. So if you are unfortunate and fall in the 5% that still get COVID, it’ll be annoying and not much more.
I also base it on the belief — which is actually pretty strongly held — that the vaccines do largely eliminate transmission. I think the evidence is increasingly convincing (in particular out of Israel) that that’s the case.
I hope you enjoy your trip. I think having been vaccinated you’ll be able to make that trip with FAR less stress or concern. If you’re like me, you’ll probably wear your mask, and be thinking, man, I’m fully vaccinated, I sure wish I didn’t have to do this. I no longer have any fear of COVID, either getting it or giving it to another. Let’s all get vaccinated and get back to the messed up world we’re all used to.