Write to letters@ times-standard.com with your reasons why you got your COVID vaccine and we’ll publish them here.

Like many of us, to vaccinate or not to vaccinate, that was the question that ran through my brain box; the first reason was hugs and kisses, the second reason was I’m not finished traveling. So, when my dear friend, the husband, and kids all, moved back to Southern California, we haven’t been together for two years, because COVID-19 was roaming the Earth and I wasn’t! I was hesitant in getting the virus shot because years ago I had received a pneumonia vaccine. I had pneumonia every day for five years straight (it seemed like that). Then to top it off, my family had filled their brains with the political brainstorm, if you received the vaccination you would also get a chip to go with it, pasha! Say to me, I have a cell phone, that’s all they need! Tina, my friend from Southern California, texted me asking if I had got the shot in the arm. I was happy to say indeed I did! Hugs are coming up from Southern California and more are coming from my Wyoming Class Reunion, in July! Yay for me!

Larry DePuy, Eureka

I have had both COVID vaccine shots. I did it for three reasons. 1) To protect myself from sickness, death and permanent organ and limb damage to my body. 2) To protect those around me from getting COVID from me. I can sleep well at night knowing I did not transmit this virus to someone who as a consequence died or became disabled from it. 3) By protect

ing myself from getting the virus, I have effectively taken a critical step from giving it the opportunity to mutate and render the vaccine useless. If that happens, if it mutates to the point of rendering the vaccines useless, we will be back at square one, more will die, businesses will have to shut down again and a

new vaccine will have to be developed, mass produced and given be out. It is everyone’s civic duty to get vaccinated. To shun getting vaccinated, barring medical excuse, is either cowardice or stupidity.

Eric Cortez, Eureka

Simple, the same reason I have been getting vaccines for 75 years. I didn’t want to get infected, suffer with an illness and maybe die.