COVID-19 vaccine chase adds drudgery to rat race
Daughter asked about COVID-19 vaccine parameters. “How far are you willing to drive for a vaccination,” she inquired. Exasperated by the insanity of vaccine distribution efforts, especially regarding disparities between races and socioeconomic status, my fetid answer reflected dismay and all emotions connected to being pissed off after being showered by silver-tongued Gov. Phil Murphy, Mayor Reed Gusciora, County Executive Brian Hughes and a cast of other disingenuous Democratic political operatives.
One mile.
Of course, living a longer life represents personal desire although bending over backward or being staged in the downward dog position and begging for vaccination, suggests severe vulnerability and compromised position.
As Sarah Palin offered, “The man can only ride you when your back is bent.” Imagine the mental state of man or woman, me, employing Ms. Palin wisdom although most know her observation resonated from this Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. insight.
“Whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can’t ride your back unless it is bent.”
Found myself humming a toxic-laced line from The Smashing Pumpkins’ Bullet With Butterfly Wings song recently — Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage. Rage ramps against the dying of the light and Gov. Murphy who talks an outstanding game of equity and access.
“We know this virus has had an outsized impact on our Black and brown communities, and in communities that have been historically underresourced, especially in terms of medical care,” Murphy said during one media briefing in February.
“This is, as of three days ago, Black History Month, and I think that we all share a common goal to use this month wisely to help make COVID-19 history.”
Undoubtedly, hesitancy based on distrust represents part of the issue with tepid responses from Black and brown residents to pursue vaccinations.
Dr. Denise Rodgers, a vice chancellor and professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick and a public health leader in Newark, recognized that issue.
Rodgers, who serves on the Department of Health’s vaccine advisory panel, told NJSpotlight.
“What I am increasingly convinced of is that there is an equally important part two, (that) the mechanisms put in place to allow people to get the vaccine further disadvantage people in Black and Brown communities.”
“Minority residents may be less likely to have the computer equipment, internet connection and time needed to register through the state’s complex online system and it is hard for someone working for an hourly wage to make the repeated calls required to get through to the state’s overwhelmed telephone hotline.
“Even for people who want to get the vaccine, we have a system in place that makes it very difficult for them.”
So, if people with access, time and money struggle accessing COVID-19 vaccines, imagine issues faced by disenfranchised residents. And, please — stop with the Black people and Hispanics should get the vaccine comments, especially when limited injections exist.
Former President Donald Trump and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie disregarded masks while many of their supporters attended super-spreader events and nobody claimed White people should wear masks.
Everyone should wear masks and the future looks brighter if acquiring a COVID-19 vaccine became a national agenda.
Sound reasoning exists for the one mile marker — that’s the round trip distance to CVS Pharmacy on Liberty St. And, that’s the one-way distance to the CVS on Greenwood Ave.
Neither business offers the COVID-19 vaccine.
Tara Burke, media relations specialist for CVS’ Eastern Region, noted, “CVS Health administers COVID-19 vaccines to eligible populations at 43 select CVS Pharmacy locations throughout the state of New Jersey. As more supply becomes available, the company will partner with the state to identify areas where expanded vaccine access can reach communities through an increasing number of store locations.”
Bottom line, Gov. Murphy allows CVS to blatantly sidestep vaccinations in urban areas while Trenton Mayor Gusciora lacks intestinal fortitude to fight for equity as the national convenience chain avoids this capital city.
Daughter, a wonderful mother of two and wife, teacher of special needs children and on a very short list of loves, drove 120 miles for a COVID-19 vaccination on Friday.
Felt like smashing pumpkins. Welcome to the raged rat race.