The Vaccines are Coming
When I saw the footage of so many Americans boarding planes for the Thanksgiving weekend, I was shocked. How could people take the risk of exposing themselves and their families to a busy airport and a crowded airplane while the pandemic is raging? When I posted about this on Twitter, I got feedback from Americans saying that it might be the last time they see their families, so they feel it is worth it. This is truly a sad statement that many people have given up already. Clearly, they are in a different head-space than I am. I am trying to stay positive, as the vaccines are coming soon. If we stay holed up in our homes and go out as little as possible, we can get through this. Sure, it is hard and depressing not seeing other people, but staying alive is more important to me than any short-term gain at this point.
There are currently three companies whose applications are pending with the Canadian government: Pfizer, Moderna and Astra Zeneca. BioNTech is also leading the pack in development. These vaccines will likely require two doses. Pfizer’s spacing for the doses is three weeks apart. The current greatest kink the North American governments are working out is how to store the vaccines at extremely low sub-zero temperatures. The storage facilities are currently lacking in this regard. Governments are scrambling to find solutions.
Will I line up to get the vaccine? You betcha! I fully understand that front-line health care providers will go first, followed by care-home patients. When the general public are invited, I will be signing up as soon as possible. Any protection I can get is welcome at this point. Am I worried about side-effects? Yes, a little bit, but the universal benefit must outweigh any side-effects by a country mile. If we are to stop this disease, we need as many people as possible to get vaccinated. This will create the herd immunity to save us.
We are at a moment that will be recorded in history for all time. The sooner we can get back to our “normal” lives, the better. To say this has been a difficult year is an understatement for so many who have lost loved ones. I hope you will join me in being part of the solution when the time comes and get vaccinated. In the meantime, hang in there. It won’t be very long until life gets much better.
