AITA for not letting my sister move in with us if she not vaccinated for Covid?
A 29-year-old woman and her boyfriend were all set to welcome her 22-year-old sister into their home to escape eviction with their mom. They even caved on bringing along both cats after some back-and-forth, asking only for $100 in rent and help with groceries.
Everything flipped upside down when the couple tested positive for COVID the day they were supposed to pick her up – and during the call, the sister casually dropped that she’d never been vaccinated for anything in her life, including COVID. The older sister immediately laid down the rule: get the shot or no moving in. Tears, arguments about bodily choice, and a heartfelt text followed, but she stood firm, not wanting health or financial risks in her own space.
‘AITA for not letting my sister move in with us if she not vaccinated for Covid?’
Things kicked off with the older sister’s strong belief in personal freedom over one’s body, but reality quickly tested that view:
Surprises kept piling up, from the extra cat to the sister’s job situation:
The breaking point hit right on moving day when the couple caught COVID:
This situation reveals deeper family patterns around responsibility. The older sister clearly loves her sibling and stepped up despite their mother’s ongoing issues, but the younger sister repeatedly avoids accountability—skipping paperwork for workers’ comp, ghosting updates about her job, and clinging to habits that mirror their mom’s.
The lack of any vaccines raises alarms beyond just COVID. Diseases like measles and whooping cough remain real threats and can spread fast in close quarters. Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, noted in a 2023 New York Times interview: “Unvaccinated individuals don’t just put themselves at risk; they become potential vectors for diseases we’ve nearly eradicated, like measles, which is incredibly contagious.”
The older sister’s pattern of bending on rules—like accepting the cats and dropping the job pressure—then suddenly enforcing the vaccine requirement shows how hard consistent boundaries can be in family dynamics. A smarter approach might involve helping find temporary pet-friendly shelter or funding a full vaccine series upfront.
Ultimately, bodily autonomy works both ways. The younger sister can refuse shots, but the couple has every right to protect their health, finances, and peace at home. Clear written agreements on timelines, rent, and contributions could head off long-term dependency if they ever reconsider.
Here’s what people had to say to OP:
Online folks jumped in with heated takes, mixing health worries with straight talk on boundaries:
Most backed the older sister, saying COVID was just the final straw amid bigger red flags:
![[Reddit User] - I'd also be worried about measles since she has never been vaccinated.](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/wp-editor-1766650564599-2.webp)
![[Reddit User] - Okay let me preface with I am a firm believer in people have the right to bodily autonomy, and they should be able to do whatever they...](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/wp-editor-1766650568390-6.webp)
Bottom line, the older sister isn’t the villain for insisting on the vaccine. She’s just safeguarding her home and well-being after giving plenty of leeway. The younger one has her choices, but they come with consequences in a shared living situation.
What do you think—should family ties always come first, or is it fair to put health rules ahead when someone’s moving in? How would you handle a relative who needs help but refuses to meet basic conditions like this?
