We encourage Girl Scout volunteers and caregivers to have appropriate and respectful conversations about activity planning, comfortability and needs for troop and neighborhood gatherings.
Can I ask someone if they’ve been vaccinated?
First, reflect on why you are asking this question. It is appropriate to ask questions relevant to your family’s health in preparation for safety at an in-person gathering. You can ask whether someone is vaccinated if you interact with them in person, but you don’t need to know the reasoning behind their decisions.
Be transparent and honest about why you ask about someone’s vaccination status. Explain how the information will be used and set shared agreements about confidentiality. Do not force anyone to share nor require it to participate.
When planning activities/gatherings in places with an increased risk of transmission, such as indoors or airline travel, it would be essential to understand whether that is appropriate for all participants. Rather than asking about vaccination status, survey the group for locations and protocols they are comfortable with.
For all other situations, allow individuals to disclose their vaccination status as they are comfortable. Do not ask out of curiosity.
If you are asked to disclose your status and are uncomfortable, feel empowered to ask questions such as, “Why do you need this information?”
Can I ask a host whether other people at an event will be vaccinated?
Focus on assessing your family’s vulnerability and risk to others. Familiarize yourself with protective measures and be reasonable about your access to these measures. You can also ask about location, capacity, transportation, and other aspects of the event the host(s) can control.
No one should feel obligated to put themselves at risk. We recommend respectfully sharing your comfort level, like being uncomfortable with indoor meetings unless everyone has been vaccinated. And then focus on solutions to find common ground. Start by acknowledging that it is a difficult time, and everyone wants to stay healthy and safe. Think of other ways to maintain connectedness — whether it is socially distant outdoor gatherings or Zoom meetings.