News from today noted the first vaccine approval by Health Canada. Delivery is expected by Monday with first vaccinations occurring by mid-week. This brings some smiles and hope, but it will still be into the third or fourth quarter of 2021 or thereabouts before most of the nation will be vaccinated.
The push-pull continues between hope and trust -- when, who, how, what if...? vs. safety? what about allergy potential? keeping it cold, transporting across a huge nation and so on. Many questions deal with the "I want it now" and the mistrust of protocols and science -- all in the same breath. It seems the fear and hope are juxtaposed in the anxiety witnessed during question periods with persons in charge of COVID and vaccine management. We simply don't have all the answers. The age-old concern of public health presents itself here -- when is there enough information to act? We appear to be there for vaccines.
Listening to the excitement among media spokespeople today mixed with a heavy dose of skepticism pushed the anxiety buttons in my head. I do understand this is a potential turning point in the pandemic -- hopefully -- though it is not really a new beginning. We still will need to mask and distance for another year or more and some of this may stay with us beyond that, since there are people who will choose not to be vaccinated. This won't be the story of eradication of polio or smallpox, but it will be similar to the continued efforts to vaccinate for measles, mumps, hepatitis, tetanus, diphtheria, pneumococcal pneumonia and others. It is another weapon in the arsenal, but it isn't the bomb that will end the war. (that sentence is problematic for me since I truly dislike the war metaphor here <sigh>). So the next phase begins. We are not 'there' yet, but we are taking the next step in the journey.
While thinking of this next step in our new way of living, a song came to mind. I find the lyrics bring hope. This version, one of many covers, feels calming. Just sit back and listen. Stay safe. Enjoy!
Somewhere Over the Rainbow -- Pentatonix
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