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As a medical researcher, I received my first Moderna vaccine dose yesterday. I feel incredibly lucky, but also, a tiny bit guilty. I have very minimal patient c
by SubiculumCode 6y ago
As a medical researcher, I received my first Moderna vaccine dose yesterday. I feel incredibly lucky, but also, a tiny bit guilty. I have very minimal patient contact, and I could not help but wonder if by taking the vaccine, I was depriving someone more needy of the vaccine. In the end, I decided that due to inevitable bureaucratic/managerial inefficiencies, any action I take would not materially affect when non-hospital employees begin to get vaccinated, and that by getting vaccinated could potentially prevent me from spreading the virus in the future. Who knows whether I made the most ethical choice, but at least, I tell myself, I considered the question.
edit: I would add that telling friends and family that I got vaccinated actually uplifted their spirits: It seemed to give them hope that this would all end. Its different when people you know get it, versus hearing about it on the news.
- dehrmann 6y ago> I could not help but wonder if by taking the vaccine, I was depriving someone more needy of the vaccine. (Assuming you're in the US) If it helps, vaccine distribution has been so poor that you're not depriving anyone of anything.
- jostmey 6y agoYeah, I'm at a medical university and in a similar situation. However, I am hearing that far fewer eligible people are electing to receive the vaccine than hoped. The line to get the vaccine is far shorter than it was supposed to be. We need people to take the vaccine to make this go away, so I suppose anyone in line should just take the vaccine and not feel guilty.
- driverdan 6y agoThis depends on where you are. Some places are managing it well, some aren't. There was a huge mess in Chattanooga with people waiting in line for 6h, being told there weren't enough doses and to leave, and then there being plenty so they gave them to friends and family.
- SllX 6y agoYou know what? Congrats. You got your first injection. This does make you less likely to be a vector for this particular virus, and more importantly, makes it less likely that you’re going to die or suffer long term effects from COVID. You shouldn’t discount that. Sincerely, a member of the public. EDIT: the type of typo that is the exact opposite of what I meant to say. Goddamnit.
- bluGill 6y agoWe need as many people as possible to get a vaccine. High risk is secondary and only worth thinking about at all because of limited supply.
- jquery 6y agoYou did the right thing, in my opinion. I am in a cohort that has no hope of getting the vaccine before May... from where I’m sitting, it’s very frustrating seeing vaccine doses just sitting there, not being taken because of bureaucratic inefficiency. I’d infinitely rather the vaccines went to some of the “wrong” people than sit unused. In fairly short order, I think the main problem is going to be people refusing to take the vaccine, making it difficult to achieve herd immunity.
- eplanit 6y agoHere in Southern California, 20-40% (!) of front-line medical workers are refusing the vaccine[1]. I wouldn't feel guilty, if I were you. [1] https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/california/story/2020-12-31/healthcare-workers-refuse-covid-19-vaccine-access https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/california/story/2...
- SubiculumCode 6y agoThat is outrageous.
- malkia 6y agoI've felt the same about a friend (he works in a hospital). Rather than feeling jelaous, we all felt something good is happening, lots of folks are still afraid to take it, so this taken by medical personnel is uplifting.
- SubiculumCode 6y agoaddendum: one day after being vaccinated, no issues except the usual sore arm. Go science!