By Tangerine Clarke
Like many Caribbean-Americans
who are fearful of being
inoculated with the two-dose
Pfizer vaccine, I too, was apprehensive.
I made all types of
excuses, as to why I was uncomfortable
with having the COVID-
19 vaccine administered to my
arm, possibly because of misinformation.
I was nervous that there was
not enough study done of the
vaccine, and it was proven to be
scientifically safe to combat the
“Novel Coronavirus.” Developed
in approximately 10 months, was
enough doubt to scare me stiff.
History has shown that vaccines
take years to develop, like the
Yellow Fever dose, that provides
life-long immunity.
I was in no hurry for the ‘jab’
since I continued to feel safe
from the virus. I wear a mask
and stay six feet apart from others.
I also avoid large gatherings,
sanitize and wash my hands, and
get tested frequently, more so,
whenever I travel to other states
or abroad.
But regardless of all these precautions,
Caribbean L 8 ife, MARCH 19-25, 2021
I felt like I was being
bombarded with reports that
say, travelers, may not be allowed
to board an aeroplane without a
vaccine card.
Like this one, that said. “As
COVID-19 vaccination rates creep
up and the promise of a postpandemic
future moves from
improbable to possible, a new
question is emerging: Should
countries and the private sector
embrace the idea of a digital
vaccine passport for travel, working
and dining? Though proving
you’re vaccinated to travel is
not a new concept (think Yellow
fever), doing so for COVID-19
would be on a far grander scale
than ever before.”
As a passionate globetrotter,
this was a wake up call for me,
and I felt I was being forced to
take the vaccine. So without further
adieu, I decided to schedule
an appointment. Surprisingly, I
was called sooner that expected,
but unfortunately, distribution
of the J&J vaccine, which I opted
to take, is limited in New York,
leaving me with only one option.
The Pfizer two-dose, that is readily
available in Brooklyn.
Was this the right thing to do?
I asked myself. Albeit, I warmed
up to the idea, since, family
members and friends completed
both phases seamlessly, and
without side effects.
I arrived at 4:30 pm for a 4:40
pm time slot, and was pleased
to see just a few persons ahead
of me.
After completing a brief
symptom questionnaire for my
mother and myself, we were ushered
into the treatment room
less than 15 minutes after we
arrived.
The process was quick. Everyone
wore mask. The registered
nurse (RN), alone in the room,
was welcoming and competent.
She asked us to verify our name,
and date of birth, and explained
that she would be administering
the Pfizer vaccine. I recognized
her accent as Jamaican.
I don’t remember feeling the
prick of the needle.
A COVID-19 vaccination
Caribbean Life freelancer Tangerine Clarke receiving her
Covid-19 vaccine at Brrokdale Urgent Care in Brooklyn. Tangerine
record card, with the date of
the administration, and a followup
three weeks period, for the
second dose, is recorded on the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention document.
As I write this article, I could
feel pain and stiffness in my
upper left shoulder. Hopefully,
this is a temporary discomfort
that far outweighs the risk of
attracting the deadly virus that
has taken the lives of hundreds
of Caribbean nationals.
Clarke
Why I finally agreed to take
the COVID-19 vaccine
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