* Death is only a small part of the risk. COVID-19 is not just a respiratory disease, it is more of a blood disease, and can permanently damage many organs.
* Lung damage can be severe and permanent, as in worse Smokers' Lung than heavy long-term smokers, even for large numbers of asymptomatic cases. [1], [2]
* Extended long-COVID can occur even after very mild cases. Initial data shows that these are significantly reduced by the vaccine [6]
* it is not just about you, but about you not becoming a vector. Public health matters to a society, you enjoy the benefits of the society, and share it's duty to contribute. Don't shirk.
* mRNA vaccines are not new, having been first published in 1989 [3][4] and in numerous human trials since 2011. Any substantial risks with this technology would have already shown up [5]. mRNA vaccines do not alter your DNA and are very specific, and I'd say likely more safe than standard weakened- or dead-virus vaccines.
[1] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseas...
[2] https://www.ibtimes.com/some-covid-19-survivors-lungs-worse-...
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA_vaccine
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC297778/
[5] https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-12-mrna-vaccine-safety.h...
[6] https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/2021031...