Opinion: Opting out of the COVID-19 vaccine is not ‘a personal choice,’ but a problem we must solve together

For many, seeing others acting in what appears to be selfish ways inspires strong negative emotions. But will they help us change the hearts and minds of others when shared?

Quite a furor was kicked off around the league by Matt Sullivan’s recent piece on Rolling Stone highlighting how players on several teams may not be able to play in certain markets with vaccination mandates just over a day in advance of the NBA’s annual Media Day activities.

The article implicated several Boston Celtics among the holdouts, so fans likely breathed a sigh of relief when veteran guard Marcus Smart revealed he’d been vaccinated. However, his comments regarding the situation in question shed light on how much work still needs to be done regarding education on the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine to public health.

“It’s tough being told what you can and can’t do with your own body,” said Smart.