We're all in this together - get vaccinated

The text I got last Sunday was a big shocker.

“Notice from DOH to Karl: vaccine is now available at a location near you, and sign up is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Sign up for an appointment at ...”

I had registered the previous week online to get the COVID-19 vaccine but really figured it would be March before I would get a chance to receive it. The words first-come, first-serve got my attention so I immediately signed up for an appointment.

I got my first dose Wednesday and I’m already beginning to feel like Superman — well at least where the coronavirus is concerned.

My wife has been in the hospital recently in Lubbock and while we were there most of the nurses and doctors on our floor were getting their second dose and nursing homes in Texas were starting to vaccinate residents. Still I was hearing that we wouldn’t have everyone vaccinated until fall. So I was excited.

The night before I went in to get the shot I heard news stories on TV talking about teachers who had been ready to get the vaccine then turned back because they weren’t up in the plan yet. I felt a little guilty. I knew my age wasn’t enough alone to get me moved up in the line so I guess my underlying conditions must be worse than I thought.

I’ve heard a lot of debate over getting the vaccine and whether or not it is safe after being developed so quickly. Some people are turned off by vaccines all the way around and prior to this pandemic had even begun opting out of vaccinating their children.

It’s easy to understand why young parents could think that way because they didn’t know someone on crutches or in a wheelchair because of polio. They don’t remember getting the measles or mumps and having parents put cousins and friends together so the kids can get the virus as a child and not suffer their more ominous dangers as an adult. That failure to heed history has led to a return of cases of whooping cough recently.

As a Rotarian, I’ve been involved in a long-time campaign called Polio-plus, which seeks to wipe out polio world-wide through vaccination. We’ve gotten close but wars, famine and crooked leadership have made the job tough.

At this point I think getting as many vaccinated as possible is the only chance we have of avoiding another round of increasing cases next winter.

Yeah, I haven’t had a good record lately with vaccinations as the last two years I’ve taken the flu shot and wound up with the flu both times. But I’m so thankful to the folks that worked overtime to develop these vaccines.

I urge everyone who is worried about getting the virus to try and get over their uneasiness or stubbornness and get vaccinated for their family, their co-workers and their community.

This is the part where we’re all in this together.

Karl Terry writes for Clovis Media Inc. Contact him at:

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