Murray Neb.-Recent developments around the world are making it clear that it is becoming increasingly difficult to return to normal life without a vaccination. While some are still resisting the pressure to immunize, many places are beginning to make it impossible to participate without a vaccination card if not outright penalizing non-vaccination.

A move thanks to the Biden administration required federal employees and contractors to receive a vaccination. This came hand in hand with an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emergency temporary standard (ETS) that privately owned businesses with 100 or more employees require their employees to be vaccinated or comply with weekly testing.

Cities are also launching their own requirements. Starting on Feb. 15, Boston will require proof of full vaccination in order to access many indoor establishments such as indoor dining restaurants, fitness centers, and entertainment establishments. They will also require city employees to have their vaccinations by the same deadline. Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. are instituting similar requirements for their citizens.

This isn’t just going on in the United States though. Around the world, vaccination is becoming a standard requirement for participation in society. Recently, Novak Djokovic, a tennis player from Serbia who is currently ranked number one in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), made headlines when he was denied entrance to Australia. Djokovic, who is unvaccinated, was on his way to attend a tennis tournament, having been granted a medical exception for his vaccination status. He was not however able to freely enter the country after his visa was revoked. Upon landing, he was detained at the airport and was then transferred to an immigration detention hotel.

In another recent event that made headlines, President Emmanuel Macron of France stated in an interview with French newspaper Le Parisien, that he wanted to “hassle,” or another potential translation “piss off,” unvaccinated people. He also said that he wouldn’t force people to take the vaccine but that his strategy would be to make life difficult for them. As can be imagined, this statement came with controversy. Many other leaders in France criticized Macron. The debate in the French parliament over the issue of mandatory vaccination in order to access certain venues was paused after the President’s comments.

With time and hindsight, the good and the bad of all of this will inevitably become more apparent but for now, vaccination is quickly becoming the way of the world.

If you would like to get vaccinated against covid-19, you can visit vaccine.gov to find locations near you.