He and his assistant do wear masks, but they see patients in a small room with a closed door. What’s clear is that many people think that getting vaccinated is simply about protecting yourself. And we do have what a philosopher would call a reason of prudence for getting vaccinated — a reason that’s more compelling the older we are. Yet there’s also a public-spirited, altruistic reason for getting vaccinated: There’s now bountiful evidence that vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus to others. The broader point is one I’ve made before: When many people accept a small inconvenience — like wearing a mask or getting vaccinated — we can achieve something of great value to us all.

Source: New York Times May 25, 2021 09:01 UTC