i hear they didn’t have microchips in their vaccines back then

They thought the plague never avoided anyone, so why should they?

They did. Your confusion is on the meaning of the commonly used phrase.

Avoid it like the plague actually means you’re going to do almost nothing but hope you don’t die.

You can watch a very historically accurate and 100% true documentary on netflix: The Decameron

Because they thought it was infringing on their freedom when told to wear masks and social distance

Well, they were rubbing shit into their open wounds so you tell me.