1/
I went to a local @cvspharmacy today to get my second shot of the Shingrix vaccination.
This is the vaccine that helps protect people over 50 years old from getting the painful reactivation of the childhood chickenpox virus.
Also known as shingles.
I went to a local @cvspharmacy today to get my second shot of the Shingrix vaccination.
This is the vaccine that helps protect people over 50 years old from getting the painful reactivation of the childhood chickenpox virus.
Also known as shingles.
2/
The pharmacist was kind. Applied a discount to offset the cost. Gave me the obligatory medical information and consent form to sign.
I did.
He "gently agitated" the vaccine mix in front of me.
To my surprise he came around the counter to give me the shot.
The pharmacist was kind. Applied a discount to offset the cost. Gave me the obligatory medical information and consent form to sign.
I did.
He "gently agitated" the vaccine mix in front of me.
To my surprise he came around the counter to give me the shot.
3/
"Which arm?" he asked.
I took my left out of my jacket.
As I turned away from him, I noticed a Black woman staring at me.
Her eyes wide in a mix of horror and surprise.
She was picking up her medications, but got distracted.
I knew exactly what she was thinking.
"Which arm?" he asked.
I took my left out of my jacket.
As I turned away from him, I noticed a Black woman staring at me.
Her eyes wide in a mix of horror and surprise.
She was picking up her medications, but got distracted.
I knew exactly what she was thinking.
4/
"You hate needles, huh?" I inquired.
"Can't stand 'em," she replied, shaking her head and disarmed that I just read her mind.
"Me neither. But I figure this is good practice for the #COVID19 vaccination."
As if on cue, the pharmacist interrupted out conversation.
"You hate needles, huh?" I inquired.
"Can't stand 'em," she replied, shaking her head and disarmed that I just read her mind.
"Me neither. But I figure this is good practice for the #COVID19 vaccination."
As if on cue, the pharmacist interrupted out conversation.
5/
"Little stick," he announced as the needle pierced my flesh.
The woman fixed her eyes on me, monitoring my reaction like a concerned mother with her child.
It didn't hurt.
I didn't flinch.
"All done," the pharmacist said as he put the bandaid over the injection site.
"Little stick," he announced as the needle pierced my flesh.
The woman fixed her eyes on me, monitoring my reaction like a concerned mother with her child.
It didn't hurt.
I didn't flinch.
"All done," the pharmacist said as he put the bandaid over the injection site.
6/
I put on my jacket and glanced at my maternal observer.
She was still watching when she spoke.
"That wasn't so bad," she uttered.
Now she was reading my mind.
"Not at all. Gotta take care of myself," I responded.
She pulled down her mask and smiled.
I put on my jacket and glanced at my maternal observer.
She was still watching when she spoke.
"That wasn't so bad," she uttered.
Now she was reading my mind.
"Not at all. Gotta take care of myself," I responded.
She pulled down her mask and smiled.
7/
"Yes you do. Have a blessed day."
"You too," I said as I exited.
I don't know if watching me get that shot helped calm her fear of vaccines.
But our encounter reminded me that many in our diverse Black communities may choose not to get the #COVID19 vaccination.
"Yes you do. Have a blessed day."
"You too," I said as I exited.
I don't know if watching me get that shot helped calm her fear of vaccines.
But our encounter reminded me that many in our diverse Black communities may choose not to get the #COVID19 vaccination.
8/
Some won't believe the science.
Some don't trust doctors.
Some will say "Let go and let God."
Some are afraid of needles.
All valid explanations.
But one thing is clear.
As @gradydoctor writes...
"Tuskeegee" isn't always the reason.
#MedTwitter
thelancet.com/journals/lance…
Some won't believe the science.
Some don't trust doctors.
Some will say "Let go and let God."
Some are afraid of needles.
All valid explanations.
But one thing is clear.
As @gradydoctor writes...
"Tuskeegee" isn't always the reason.
#MedTwitter
thelancet.com/journals/lance…
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