The Juice & the Squeeze

Online dating is all about first impressions — people don’t want to waste time talking to someone they’d never want to meet in person. But before you actually meet up in person, you’re probably going to ask some basic questions to get to know them better and to see if you may be compatible IRL. Questions like “What do you do for work?” or “What do you like to do outside of work?” 

But these days, there’s a question that should come before all of those: 

Are you vaccinated?

First and foremost, that’s because just like with anything relating to online dating, being safe is of vital importance. In this case, a bowl of udon noodles or a drink isn’t worth the risk of getting yourself or others around you sick.

But also, as it turns out, the answer to those three words can tell you more about a person and your compatibility with them than a hundred others. 

In normal times, it might seem weird to ask about someone’s medical history before a date — we don’t necessarily need to know if someone’s got their tetanus shot — but these aren’t normal times. 

And while some vaccines — such as those for the flu or hepatitis — aren’t recommended for certain people, the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for anyone over 5 years of age, and certainly anyone over 18, AKA anyone who is online dating. Beyond that, many pharmacies are giving away vaccines and you don’t always need to book an appointment. All that’s to say that if you aren’t vaccinated (other than for a veritable religious or medical reason), it’s likely because you’re a conspiracy theorist who distrusts science; that is, a dealbreaker for most people.

Thankfully, at the time of writing, over 70% of people in the US have received their first dose, and over half are fully vaccinated — that’s 196 million people — and the number keeps growing. Those are pretty good odds.

If you’re not vaccinated, get vaccinated. It’s as simple as that. It protects other people, it protects you, and it’s available at no cost. 

If you still don’t want to, we know we probably won’t change your mind, but have fun staying single in the city.