By Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360] .
Many might think that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is for the weak or those who have no faith, however, far from doing it for yourself, making the decision to roll up your sleeve and accept a needle stick is an act of compassion, empathy, and yes?love.
Elvira ColÃn, a Mexican immigrant, lives in Chicago. As soon as the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines began to be introduced in the country, she knew she had a chance to move away from being one more of the thousands of deaths that were being counted daily at the beginning of the year.
The need for immunization was mentioned all the time on television. Mass vaccination centers provided inoculation 24 hours a day. Everything was going well, however, negative rumors began to spread "like wildfire", yes, just like the explosive material that causes deaths.
The rumors ranged from the most absurd to the most scandalous. "It's not a vaccine, it's a chip with which they want to control us", "It's a poison, the richest want to keep the few resources that are left and want to get rid of the poorest", Elvira read on Facebook and messaging platforms like Whatsapp.
At 68 years old, Elvira didn't know what to believe, the messages were forwarded by her friends, family and acquaintances, people she trusted. Facebook was full of "horror" stories about how people were dying because of vaccines, and these accounts were backed up by "scientists. The hesitation to get vaccinated grew for Elvira.
The vaccination was progressing. Elvira decided not to get vaccinated, but a phone call made her hesitate.
Her only daughter and grandson live in Mexico, usually visiting her once or twice a year, as the economy allows. However, for two years, due to the pandemic, they were unable to see her, which filled her with sadness.
"I had already told my daughter that I did not want to get vaccinated because I had many doubts and feared that something would happen to me with the vaccine, I read and heard so many things that I decided not to do it. I told my daughter in a phone call my decision and she told me emphatically that I would not come, because I would not have it on my conscience that she could infect me and, in one of those, kill me," she told P360P.
My love was greater than my fear
"I felt so bad. We cried and he explained all his reasons. I hesitated again and I spent the whole night thinking about what I could do and the truth is, I didn't think about it anymore, I said: I'm getting vaccinated. I love them so much that I couldn't do that to them and do that to me, my love was bigger than my fears and the next day I made my appointment. A week later I had my first vaccination and 15 days later the next one. I didn't have a single symptom, no pain or anything.
For Elvira, the decision was worth it. For one thing, she was relieved that she was protected against a virus that is killing millions around the world, but the main reason is that her daughter and grandson visited her at two months old. They, too, were vaccinated.
Vaccination is for chingones
"No one should doubt. The vaccine is useful, it helps and allows you to move forward. Getting vaccinated is for chingones. That's all there is. There is everything to do it, they even give it to you at the pharmacy, they gave it to my daughter and my grandson there. They don't even ask you where you're from. You tell them you want the vaccine, you fill out a form and that's it, they don't charge you or anything," Elvira said.
As Elvira told us her story and sipped her coffee, she sighed and said, "It's going to be okay if we all do our part.
Currently, the U.S. has administered 334 million 942,236 doses of one of the vaccines used in the U.S. - Pfzier-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson. 184 million 543,821 people have at least one dose, while 159 million 675,163 are fully vaccinated.
However, there are millions who are still unwilling or unwilling to be vaccinated, which has led to a possible herd immunity is increasingly distant and the different variants of the virus advance, such is the case of Delta, a strain that seems to spread more easily and quickly than others, which can lead to more cases of COVID-19.
An increase in the number of cases will put more pressure on healthcare resources, lead to more hospitalisations and potentially more deaths.
Protect yourself from COVID-19
COVID-19 continues to spread in the U.S. and variants are circulating. In response, take steps to protect yourself from the virus.
- Get a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to you.
- Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others.
- Stay 6 feet away from other people who do not live with you.
- Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer.
