Life Between 0 and 1

I went this past Friday to get my second COVID-19 vaccination shot from the local clinic. My thoughts on this are varied and are definitely not politically motivated so anyone who has arrived to this post expecting something political can just keep going. I’m aware this subject has unfortunately become politically charged but at the end of the day its always going to be a personal decision because its only you that goes into the room to get the your vaccination.

My reasons are more personal as I’ve seen what this virus is capable of doing to people. If you know enough people with underlying conditions or people in hazardous professions you’re going to have a high percentage potential of seeing more than “just a cold” as some will say. I know people who have gone onto machines and come out the other side and I’ve known people who never woke up again and didn’t have proper funerals. There are no words for someone when in the back of your mind you have the questions “would a mask have prevented this?” or “would stricter quarantines have prevented this?” My wife reluctantly has gone for the vaccine she claims so she doesn’t have to worry about being around her parents who themselves have received their vaccine as well. Asking her about the reluctance the response was a regurgitation of empty and unsubstantiated talking points from Facebook, or some other social media site. She got the vaccine, so that’s what matters, its unfortunate that the circumstances are negative for her since future vaccinations might not cross the finish line.

I’ve always and remain a firm believer in science and the methods that are used to provide answers to questions and solve problems. Science was able to identify coronavirus as a global threat very early in 2020 and private companies immediately started working on a breakthrough mRNA vaccine. This fact has made it possible for me to have had my second dose 15 months after the global pandemic was declared. We have been using vaccines for more than half a century with a relatively safe track record. The anti-vaxxer movement is depressing in that its putting children that don’t have a choice at serious risk to diseases and viruses that were once considered on the verge of being eradicated. Adults are joining this movement as they now have the opportunity to refuse a vaccine themselves.

Getting the vaccine is just the right thing to do. It protects you from others that aren’t being considerate or compassionate of those around them for whatever reason they have. It also protects others you come into contact with as you can’t pass the virus onto others. For me, vaccination has brought a renewed sense of patriotism and pride by contributing to the greater good. It has also lifted a huge amount of fear off my shoulders as I know that my chances of contracting covid-19 is significantly decreased. My path back to the “new normal” has become shortened while being protected from those that are being selfish. Just get the damn vaccine already.