Getting vaccination after original skepticism

I got my second COVID-19 vaccine last week. And, no, we do not know the long-term effects and won’t for years, but we do know COVID-19 can kill and the Delta Variant seems to be particularly deadly. That said, I hate vaccine mandates. There should always be alternatives for those who chose not to be vaccinated, even if for ‘stupid’ reasons.

Why did I wait? Didn’t want to be a guinea pig. Do not trust the drug companies, the CDC or any politician. Also had COVID-19 in December and counted on my immune system to keep me well at least for a half year or so. Lastly, there were too many talking heads telling me I had to get vaccinated and calling me stupid if I didn’t.

Why did I get vaccinated? Determined that the vaccine was safe at least in the short term based on data. Was alarmed at hospitals reporting 80-90% of COVID-19 patients were unvaccinated. Had COVID-19 and was sicker than I had ever been in my life, should have been in the hospital, I was that sick and weak. And, no, I am not in an ‘at risk’ group.

The vaccine isn’t perfect. It won’t keep you from getting COVID-19, won’t keep you from spreading it, won’t keep you out of the hospital or even out of the ICU. But (and this is the important part) it will give you a 70-80% chance of not having any of the above happen.

— Jan Williams, Chico