Got your Shot?

I did .. the first one, anyway. Pfizer.

It took until a few weeks ago before I was old enough and could get on the calendar.

Next appointment for me is in early May and I’ll be there right on time. Still wearing a mask, and frankly: I expect to be wearing it through the balance of this year.

The vaccines are a scientific success. Amazing feat, by amazing people. The former administration deserves a massive kudos from all of us. Further, the current administration has done a phenomenal job of distribution, in partnership with The States.

Now, it’s up to us.

You’ve heard all of this .. it’s a race between the variants COVID-19 out there, and while the vaccines seem to be handling them, it’s important to note: the longer the virus stays in the wild .. In the reservoir represented by people who can catch it and grow it, the more the virus will mutate. Darwin tells us (conceptually): ‘survival of the fittest‘ (the actual quote came from Herbert Spencer). The virus variants that bypass the immune response and the vaccine will be stronger and continue to replicate.

Vaccine hesitancy in this country is certainly prevalent, and in some cases, understandable. Please don’t hesitate because of politics .. please look at the science. Talk to your doctor, your pastor, your vaccinated friends.

I agree: the J&J vaccine pause because of very rare blood clots didn’t help with vaccine confidence. However, the FDA and CDC lifted this pause on Friday, issuing appropriate warnings for some audiences. Please read up on this.

Blood clots are bad .. but if you’re a fan of numbers, here’s a few regarding the risk of getting them:

• 1 in 1,200,000 from the J&J vaccine.
• 147,000 in 1,000,000 from COVID .. almost 120,000 times greater risk of getting the J&J vaccine.

Note the J&J vaccine manages COVID differently than Pfizer and Moderna .. given the choice or if you’re in the risk group, please take one of those instead.

Be smart. Be an adult. Do the right thing. Get the vaccine when it is your turn. Once vaccinated, protect yourself and your community.

We’re so close. We will get through this.