When I started looking into this a few years back, I thought vaccine mandates would be something larger corporations or government agencies had to deal with. Little did I know that the CDC's latest mandate is targeting every single mom-and-pop store and local business out there.

The new regulation requires all small businesses to enforce strict vaccination policies for their employees, threatening many with fines if they don't comply. It's hard enough running a small business these days without having to make decisions that could affect the livelihood of your staff and customers.

Three years ago, I was just as clueless about what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to health policies. But once I started digging into how government agencies like the CDC operate, I couldn't help but question their motives. It's not that I don't believe in vaccines—I've had my share—but there's something off about forcing small businesses to enforce them.

Take the local bakery down the street for example. They're struggling with rising costs and now they have to worry about implementing vaccine policies? How is this fair to someone who has worked hard their whole life just to serve up some fresh bread?

The alternative isn't easy, but it's thinking outside of the box that might help. Maybe instead of forcing businesses to take on these responsibilities, we could look at ways to support them financially or through grants. Let's focus on educating people about vaccines and making informed choices rather than mandating compliance.

It breaks my heart knowing some small business owners are having to choose between following the rules or losing their livelihoods. We need better solutions that respect both public health and personal freedoms.