Vaccines bringing hope to restless residents
After a year of isolation, people want to get out
As more and more people in Western Pennsylvania manage to lock down vaccine appointments, some who have been vaccinated say they share a sense of hope and hesitancy about returning to pre-pandemic activities.
Richardand Darlene Hartman, of Lower Burrell, received their second doses Feb. 27, and now, they’re looking to return to a bit of normalcy.
Ms. Hartman, 77, described herself as a “social person” and is excited to get back to activities she enjoyed before the pandemic, like her two bowling leagues and attending church.
“I definitely want to go back to bowling, but going to church was number one,” said Ms. Hartman, a retired hairdresser. “Two weeks after I’m vaccinated, I plan on going back.”
Ms. Hartman is waiting before going back to church to follow the guidelines from health officials that say it takes two weeks after being vaccinated to be fully protected.
Health officials have also noted, within that two-week period, it is still possible to contract COVID19.
But if a person has been fully vaccinated and is exposed to a positive COVID-19 case within three months of the vaccination, they do not need to be quarantined, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
“This does not mean the vaccine is only effective for three months, but rather that it is unclear how long immunity from the vaccine will last,” the Pennsylvania health departmentsaid in a press release.
Ms. Hartman’s husband, Richard, 77, is a bit more wary about returning to his pre-pandemic activities, like target shooting with his friends or visiting libraries to map
hisgenealogy.
“I feel more comfortable, but I’ll still be wearing my mask,” he said, and Ms. Hartmanagreed.
Mr. Hartman, a retired electrician, also said he was going to “give it a little time” before he returned to dining out.
“Myhusband won’t go out to a restaurant now,” Ms. Hartman said, “and I’m hoping he will want to soon becauseI love going out to eat.”
Because the CDC is unsure whether a person can still transmit the virus after being vaccinated, it is recommending vaccinated people continue to wear masks when around others from outside their household.
“Ifeel like wearing a mask now is almost like social decency,” said Mary O’Connor,27, of the North Side.
Ms. O’Connor is an intensive care unit nurse at UPMC Presbyterian and said she has such confidence in the vaccine she would even consider traveling by airnow.
The Department of Health and the CDC both discourage any nonessential travel — even for people fully vaccinated — because they are unsure how long the vaccine protects against COVID-19 or how it reacts to new strains that are Pennsylvania circulating the U.S.
Ms. O’Connor has been working as a nurse throughout the entire pandemic and was vaccinated through UPMC. Half of the intensive care unit she works on is dedicated to patients with severe cases of COVID-19.
“I genuinely never felt uncomfortable going into work,” she said. “But having the vaccine, I feel far more comfortable in my everyday life.”
Even though she’s more comfortable, Ms. O’Connor noted, at places such as her gym, she’s still trying to stay farther away from people and wears her mask.
After people are vaccinated, the CDC recommends they continue to follow guidelines that have been recommended throughout the pandemic, including staying at least 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds and washing hands frequently.
“I told someone the other day, ‘Instead of using the hand sanitizer three times when I get back in the car I am only using it once,’ ” said Sally O’Neill, 59, of Lower Burrell.
Ms. O’Neill — who will receive her second vaccine dose March 10 — said after she waits two weeks she’ll “probably venture out” to eat again but will be picky about which restaurants she goes to, avoiding those that look too crowded or aren’t enforcing social distancing.
“It seems like it’s going to be easier,” said Ms. O’Neill, who was medically eligible for a shot.