I got shot yesterday. That is, I received a shot – the COVID vaccine. There was already a long line of cars when my husband and I arrived half an hour early for our 9:30 appointment. The line moved swiftly, however, and we reached the tent where they were doing the vaccinations just a few minutes after our scheduled time.

I have to admit that after all the news about the problems they were having with distribution, and the discrepancies between how much vaccine was promised to the states and how much was actually being delivered, I was holding my breath and keeping my fingers crossed right up until the time the nurse approached each of us, syringe in hand. A few seconds later, we had our shots.

After waiting the required 15 minutes before leaving the parking lot, we drove home. Neither of us had any side effects more serious than our arms feeling a little sore at the injection site.

I didn’t really expect that after getting vaccinated I’d feel like I had a suit of armor on, protecting me from the coronavirus. And I don’t. But I do feel more hopeful. Hopeful that as more and more people get vaccinated, we’ll finally reach the point where we can all feel safe again.

There are mixed reports and opinions on how long that will take. But I’ll be happy as soon as I see the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths start to go down instead of up. It will be longer than that before I go anywhere without wearing a mask, or feel comfortable being in a crowd of people, but at least I’ll know things are heading in the right direction.

In the meantime, I’ll keep my fingers crossed and continue praying – not necessarily in that order – that everyone who’s still waiting for the vaccine will be able to receive it before long, and that the supplies will be replenished in time for everyone who needs a second dose to get one. I’ll continue praying for comfort and healing for those who are infected and suffering, and for the families of those who have died from the disease. And I’ll start praying that the vaccine really does turn out to be the miracle so many of us have been hoping for, and that those who aren’t yet on board – the people who aren’t quite ready to trust the vaccine as well as the anti-vaxxers who never will – will realize how important this is. For themselves, their families and friends, their community, the country, and the world.

I know that last prayer may not be answered anytime soon, if ever. But it’s still worth a shot.

January 23, 2021
©Betty Liedtke, 2021

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