Please get your coronavirus vaccine.
Don’t stop reading. I’m not here as a medical professional. I’m not here as a scientist. I’m not here as a journalist or psychologist or immunologist. I’m not here to judge or condemn or shame.
I’m here as a young person who desperately wants to see all the adults in her life vaccinated.
Before I keep writing, I should mention that a majority of the older loved ones in my life are either fully vaccinated or are on their way and for that I am exceptionally grateful. But I know that many of my Millennial friends aren’t exactly in the same boat.
At the beginning of the pandemic, there was a meme floating around about how our parents used to be the ones begging us teenagers to stay home and not go to any parties and how now, in our mid-20s, we are arguing with them over Facetime pleading with them not to leave the house.
It’s been over a year since then and by all accounts, things are starting to get, dare I say, better. Millions of people are getting vaccinated each day and for the first time in a long time, my peers and I are starting to hope. We see the promise of normalcy.
And we’re also terrified.
In the past several weeks, I’ve talked to many, many, many, young people who are at their wits end with parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and other older, often higher risk, adults who will not get the vaccine and they are terrified.
They’re terrified because they know that even though they may be vaccinated, you are still at risk. They’re terrified to visit you because heaven forbid they infect you. They’re terrified to invite you to family gatherings because they don’t want you to get sick.
And you know why they’re terrified?
Because they love you.
I’m not here to debate whether vaccines are safe or effective. The answers are yes and yes and if you’d like, send me a private message and I am happy to provide scientific research and evidence that proves this. But as I said earlier, I’m not writing as a doctor. I’m writing as a daughter, a niece, a granddaughter, and a friend. Believe me when I say the young people that love you are hurting.
They miss you. They want to hug you and sit around your kitchen table and feel confident that you are protected from this terrible virus.
And I know you would do anything for them. That’s why we’re asking you to consider doing this. We want you to be here with us for a long time… and a vaccine is a great place to start.
Love always,
Someone who wants you around
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