ok but this is my last try. after this, it's on you.
social distancing lowers risk, it doesn't eliminate it.
masks reduce risk, they don't eliminate it.
the vaccines reduce risk, they don't eliminate it.
individually, each tactic is insufficient to snuff the virus. together, tho, the reductions of risk multiply so as to make the overall risk small. the risk is smallest and the death count will be the lowest if we maintain *all* tactics to the end.
and just as important, you're not the only person in the equation. the CDC recommendations are aimed at minimizing the risk for the entire population, which in turn will reduce the risk for each individual. if millions of people refuse the vaccine, the overall death count is higher. so a big part of following the recommendations is caring about strangers. maybe several strangers following the recommendations has already saved your life several times.