As the variations of the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out, we are now coming closer than ever to becoming a mask-less society. In Hays County, only 432 active COVID-19 cases remain. This is a significant drop compared to the 3,000 active cases in July of 2020. As the Pfizer, Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine continue to be administered, many people feel the weight release from the constant anxiety of living through a world-wide pandemic.

However, just because the vaccine is being rapidly distributed throughout the United States, doesn’t necessarily mean we will become mask-less anytime soon.

According to the CDC website, about 74 million, or 22.3% of people are fully vaccinated in the US. In Texas alone, about 5 million or 23% of all Texans are fully vaccinated.

While this seems like a large number, we have to keep in mind that the US population is over 300 million, and in Texas the population is close to about 29 million people.

Governor Greg Abbott claims Texas is “close to immunity,” but this is not the case. To abolish face masks completely, we would need 70-90% of the population to be vaccinated. But with the increasing anti-vaccinators we will be far from that percentage.

Although Governor Abbott lifted the required mask mandate, people should still be vaccinated. Many differing opinions spark about vaccinations, but in the reality of the matter, the more vaccinations, the fewer consequences and rules we will have to follow. Regardless of religious or personal beliefs, we are in the middle of a pandemic.

Yes, there is a low death rate with COVID-19, but is the risk really worth it? As a society we need to come together and realize that we rely and need each other and cannot continue living life at the risk of others. Thankfully scientists and our government have created not only a historical scientific advancement with the COVID-19 vaccine, but have provided us with something that could end so many people’s sufferings. The United States has done an amazing job the administering and distribution of the vaccine and we should be proud to be apart of this terrible but monumental moment in history.

Even though this pandemic has brought out the worst for a lot of Americans, we can overcome challenges and work together to ensure something like this will likely never happen again.