Vaccination Station

Back in April...I got the jab.  Danny did too.  I figured I had to document it.  It was the first time, in a long time, that anything like this had ever happened.  To me, it was amazing that, in just about a year, a vaccine (offered by several different companies) was developed and being administered in droves, in an organized manner.  I was able to get an appointment shortly after we returned from Florida.  I would receive the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.  It was a little emotional pulling up to the lines of cars at the fairgrounds -- everyone, just like me, wanting to make this mess better.  Wanting to protect themselves.  Wanting to protect their families.  Wanting to go back to "normal."  Wanting to ditch the mask.  Wanting to stop being afraid.  I felt like I was actually a part of something -- something that was going to hopefully make things better.  I was proud of myself; proud of everyone there.  Thankful for all of the volunteers.  Thankful that enough vaccines were available for anyone who wanted one.  At that point, I wasn't disappointed yet.  I wasn't angry at the people who refused to receive the vaccine.  It wasn't really a political thing yet.  In April, we were all still hopeful that this would all end soon.  

There were a couple of buildings of rows of cars where we had to wait our turn.

Everyone was super friendly and helpful.  I was very pleased with how organized everything was, for such a big undertaking.  

I had to prove I was there!  I sent a selfie to Tyler.  She and Joe had gotten their first vaccine a little before I did.  

Two weeks later, I returned to the same spot, to receive my second shot.  It was much different the second time around.  There weren't any lines and the process was much quicker.  I wasn't sure if it was because people didn't return for their second shot, or maybe many of the people who were there when I was there for my first shot were there for their second?  At the time of writing this (October 10, 2021) about 53% of Ohians are fully vaccinated.  When I received my first shot, I would've thought we'd be further along than that.  I hope that in 6 more months, we're not still talking about vaccinations or counting positive COVID cases, hospitalizations, or deaths.