After months of delays both due to being in a less prioritized demographic and due to pressure from family (to the point of a major dispute/argument at home a few weeks ago), I have signed up for the COVID-19 vaccine and am now waiting for a message from the Ministry of Health to go and get the jab.
Aside from feeling a sense of duty and responsibility to get vaccinated as soon as possible (both to at least reduce the probability of infecting others, mainly my family, if I catch the virus and to increase my own protection), I also see absolutely no reason not to get the vaccine in my case. I'm risking a civil war of sorts at home in case my parents find out (since they really do think it would have a high chance of killing or sterilizing me), but I value increased protection both for others and myself as well as scientific consensus much more than I do fear-based judgments and anti-scientific posts.
To be more specific, my parents freaked out over the idea of my signing up because of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and fearmongering (largely from reading misleading posts that painted extremely rare but severe reactions to the vaccine as being far more common than the evidence demonstrates). I understand that their intentions are in the right place because they believe they're protecting me, but I've decided I'm not going to forgo crucial medical advice after my repeated and persistent attempts to change their minds have sadly all failed so far.
I will surely keep trying to convince them to follow the advice of major health authorities worldwide, but in the meantime, I will do my own part and get the jab. I hope it won't be a long wait!
Aside from feeling a sense of duty and responsibility to get vaccinated as soon as possible (both to at least reduce the probability of infecting others, mainly my family, if I catch the virus and to increase my own protection), I also see absolutely no reason not to get the vaccine in my case. I'm risking a civil war of sorts at home in case my parents find out (since they really do think it would have a high chance of killing or sterilizing me), but I value increased protection both for others and myself as well as scientific consensus much more than I do fear-based judgments and anti-scientific posts.
To be more specific, my parents freaked out over the idea of my signing up because of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and fearmongering (largely from reading misleading posts that painted extremely rare but severe reactions to the vaccine as being far more common than the evidence demonstrates). I understand that their intentions are in the right place because they believe they're protecting me, but I've decided I'm not going to forgo crucial medical advice after my repeated and persistent attempts to change their minds have sadly all failed so far.
I will surely keep trying to convince them to follow the advice of major health authorities worldwide, but in the meantime, I will do my own part and get the jab. I hope it won't be a long wait!
)
