Putting nation in vaccination
I was fortunate enough to get the first shot of the Moderna vaccine last week. The only physical side effect I experienced so far was a sore arm for about a day after the shot. My emotional reaction to receiving this first dose of the vaccine was unexpected for me.
It felt like some of the weight and tension that I’ve been carrying since the pandemic began had been lifted off my shoulders. The health care worker who administered the shot explained mine was just a myriad of reactions she has seen from people who are getting the vaccination. She said people laughed, cried or were simply as relieved as I was to finally get a first dose.
Now, I’m not going to go running around now without a mask and not sanitizing my hands when it is necessary. My relief has been only partial since it was only a first dose but I hope I don’t become flooded by snot and tears when I get my second shot next month. The overall experience of getting vaccinated was fairly painless minus the pinch from the needle.
It is a small price to pay for my mental health.
I know there are a good number of people who are reluctant to get vaccinated due the recent pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Admittedly, the blood clots experienced by six women across the country is concerning and the Center for Disease Control did make the right call in investigating the arising health issues. Although, it seems the number of people refusing to get vaccinated for COVID-19 are growing out of fear.
They seem to believe that they can handle getting COVID-19 as though it were a simple case of the flu. COVID-19 is not the flu. More than 500,000 dead Americans is proof that this not a joke.
In addition to endangering themselves, individuals who refuse the vaccine are putting the health of others on the line.
This nation has been so divided in areas regarding COVID-19. The common courtesy of wearing a face mask has become a political statement which is mostly due to he who shall not be named. Seriously, you cover your mouth when you sneeze so wearing a mask is no different except it sucks when your glasses fog up.
Back to the vaccine.
If we want to get this country back to point where we can go out in public without having to wear face masks all the time then we need to get our butts to vaccination centers and get that shot in our arms. We are all mentally and emotionally exhausted from the stress this disease has caused our country and it is time to really step up to stop it.
It is time for the big babies who are moaning and groaning about getting a shot to shut up and put out their arm.
Parents who are demanding that schools reopen and extracurricular activities such as sports begin again should set an example to get the vaccine. Only then can school districts fully implement plans to reopen and have students back behind their desks or on the playing field. Holding protests without social distancing and barely wearing masks isn’t a solution.
It is a source of aggravation. I may be going on a number of tangents this week, but after starting to feel some hope that this pandemic is beginning to reach a resolution it is hard to accept the reasons for those refusing the vaccines. A minor pinch in my mind is worth avoiding being in the hospital on a ventilator and not being able to have my family and friends with me.
Too many lives have ended this way over the past year and now we have a means to help stop it. So please suck it up and begin the vaccination process not only for yourself but for your loved ones. It is worth it in the end.