Shots, Choices, and Chicago Grit: Why Vaccine Rights Matter

Let’s get something straight, Chicago-style: I’m not here to sugarcoat. I’m here to say what needs to be said, loud and proud, and just like we do on the South Side, the North Side, and everywhere in between.

Here’s the deal. Vaccines save lives. There’s no way around it. From measles, mumps, and rubella to chicken pox, COVID, the flu, shingles, pneumonia, RSV, Hep B, and tetanus, the list goes on. These aren’t just science fair projects; they’re the reason we no longer see kids in iron lungs or entire schools closed due to outbreaks. It’s medical progress, and it’s worth fighting for.

But here’s where my Chicago roots and liberal values come in: No one, especially not the government, should dictate what we do with our bodies. That means the right to choose, for everyone, at every age. Parents should have the power to make decisions for their babies. Adults should have the power to say yes or no to their own shots. The government? Stay in your lane.

Because let’s be real: When we take away the right to choose, we open the door to chaos. Outbreaks we can’t control. Kids and seniors are at risk. Communities are thrown into panic. We’ve seen the alternative, and it’s not pretty, and it’s not safe.

The truth is, vaccines are a pillar of public health. But so is freedom. And in this city and in this country, we’re supposed to have both. So, let’s keep advocating, keep educating, and keep standing up for what’s right: the right to choose, the right to protect, and the right to live in a safer, healthier Chicago and Country. Because if there’s one thing this city knows, it’s how to fight for what matters.

Want to dig even deeper? Here are two books I highly recommend for real, science-backed answers:

Vaccinated: One Man’s Quest to Defeat the World’s Deadliest Diseases

by Dr. Paul Offit

https://amzn.to/3IM4GJ8

Dr. Offit is one of the world’s leading vaccine experts. In this book, he breaks down the facts and shares the stories behind vaccines that have transformed public health.

Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel’s Autism: My Journey as a Vaccine Scientist, Pediatrician, and Autism Dad

by Dr. Peter Hotez

https://amzn.to/4gL1Kt7

Dr. Hotez blends scientific expertise with personal experience, debunking myths and reminding us why vaccines matter for every family, in every community.