Kindred,
The life you save might be your own.
"Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world."
- Jerusalem Talmud, Sanhedrin 4:1 (22a)
Yes, vaccine gives hope and will save lives, but meanwhile we must continue to do our part to stop the spread and save lives.
Yes, people can choose to mask up or not; however, just like there are public safety laws when driving in obeying traffic lights and wear safety belts, public health laws in masking up during a pandemic should be common place.
Smokers do not have the right to get other people sick from their second hand smoke; can get themselves sick, but do not have the right to get other people sick.
The same goes for offering self up as host for potentially deadly contagion; do not have the right to infect other people or harm public welfare.
We need to uphold our standards of health and safety; and recognize the dangers of not having public health and safety.