Thread by @chrisvanderveen

THREAD (about my big day)

Today, I'm happy to say I'm fully vaccinated after receiving my second dose of the Moderna vaccine two weeks ago...

But here's the thing... Vaccines, IMHO, aren't just for the person getting the vaccine.

So let me walk you through why I did this

1/

I did it, in part, for my 11 year old daughter. She and her classmates remain largely unprotected from the virus.

She wants to stay in school. And did not like remote learning.

My vaccine helps keep her and them in the classroom.

2/

I also did it for my mother.

She's fully vaccinated. And now so am I.

She wants to go gambling this weekend in Black Hawk.

I'm taking her.

It's much better than the backyard, often frigid, visits we did for months.

My vaccine allows her to get out of her home.

3/

I did it for my wife

She's been a champion through this whole process. She dealt with two scares in our household

Neither one was of her doing.

She's been working remotely in our house for 1+ year

My vaccine makes me feel more confident that the scares are behind us

4/

I did it for @CHansen9NEWS

He too has had to deal with a couple of scares due to me.

Early on the station paired certain reporters with certain photographers to limit spread. Because of that we saw one another... A LOT.

my vaccine ensures more kick-as* investigations!

5/

I did it for all of my coworkers.

I'm excited for the day when we can all get back together in our newsroom and laugh and talk and do all of the sorts of things journalists like to do in a crowded and energetic newsroom.

My vaccine gets us one step closer to that goal.

6/

I did it for people I will never know

People who work in the grocery stores I go to... who work in the restaurants I'll now more frequently visit.

My vaccine helps bring more safety and sanity to their workplace.

7/

I did it for the people who, for a variety of reasons, cannot get the vaccine.

They have good reason to not want to get this virus.

My vaccine protects them.

8/

And, honestly, I did it for you.

I know you're tired of all of this. I know you just want to enjoy life without the chaos and the pressure and the depression of the last year.

My vaccine gets us one dose closer to the end of this.

9/

And finally... I'll admit...

I did it for me.

Because, as a son of a nurse and the twin brother of a doctor -- both of whom immediately got vaccinated -- I trust the science that went into my dose

My vaccine honors that.

10/

One more thing...

It's your choice to get vaccinated, and you should only do it if you feel comfortable with it.

I was perfectly comfortable with it.

Why?

Mostly because I didn't do it just for me.

11/11