Americans’ willingness to take the coronavirus vaccine has jumped since the first two vaccines were authorized by the FDA. In a response to a survey, Sun City residents echo the Nation’s willingness to take the vaccine. Sixty-four residents responded to the question, “Will you get the vaccine?” Only three said that they would not.
Barry Cianciarulo said, “The question is not will you get the vaccine. The question is why wouldn’t you? When taken, vaccines have made the entire world a safer and healthier place. Millions of lives are saved, with minimal risk of side effects. Is there a risk when taking a vaccine? Yes, but the risk of the disease far outweighs the slight risk from the vaccine. This vaccine has gone through clinical trials as required before being certified by the FDA, so yes, I’m going to take it to protect me, my wife, and my family. A miracle drug advertised by a pharmaceutical company promising wonderful health benefits. The first 15 seconds of the commercial are about the benefits and the other 30 seconds are all the side effects and bad reactions including the possibility of death. Yet people will call their doctor to get a prescription started ASAP? The vaccine side effects are so minor and similar to the annual flu vaccine many people already get every year.”
This trend in opinions is a reassuring sign for public health experts who call the distribution of the vaccine crucial to controlling the pandemic that has killed more than 365,000 people in the USA.
Vivian Osth said, “Yes, definitely. I would hope that Sun City can arrange to give the vaccine here at the lodge. If they do, they will have to have multiple people to administer the injections so it won’t take forever.”
Community updates issued by Sun City said, “Management and the Board have been in contact with Northwestern Medicine (NM) regarding an opportunity to offer the COVID-19 vaccine here in Sun City Huntley. I have been advised that once NM receives vaccines, dissemination according to the CDC vaccination plan.”
Shirley Plocinski said, “We not only will get the vaccine, we are anxious to get it. Many, like Bill (husband) and I, are in limbo about leaving for Arizona or Florida to enjoy the warmer climate during the winter. We are wondering when we will be able to get the vaccine if we can get our second dose in another state if we get the first one here in Illinois and if we would be able to get both doses in another state. There is very little information to help us go ahead with our usual winter plans. For us, it makes little sense to go to our winter home in Arizona because they are currently one of the worst areas in the country for new COVID-19 cases. Patients are being taken to hospitals 50-60 miles away from Tucson because the hospitals in Tucson are overcrowded. My hope is that Del Webb will administer the vaccine very soon. My own physician said that we are more likely to get the vaccine from an agency of some type before it would be available at any doctor’s office. I’m ready. My sleeve is rolled up!”
Residents who register will receive information about the coronavirus vaccine as it becomes available, but registration will not guarantee them a spot in line to receive the vaccine. Kane County sign-up form is available at redcap.dph.illinois.gov/surveys/?s=X4METTTHEK.
Pam Richard said, “Ed (husband) and I have complete trust with vaccines approved by the CDC for use against viral infections. Without them, a person’s body must fight an attack by them on the bases of great health and an immune system that is healthy enough to resist the attack. As an RN, I fully support the vaccine for COVID-19 and we anxiously wait for our opportunity to receive the two doses. Many who have received influenza vaccines and still become ill with the flu will say that the vaccines do not work. What is probably happening is that there are so many different viral cases of flu and that person is probably infected with a viral infection that was not contained in the vaccine. The composition of the vaccine is selected by the scientists by predicting the most frequent and serious viral strains for the next year and selecting the top few for the vaccine.”
David Applegate said, “Of course I will get the vaccine as soon as it becomes generally available to healthy Sun City residents. Vaccines work by stimulating the production of antibodies, which help the immune system fight off the effects of the virus they target. If enough people become vaccinated, then personal immunity becomes herd immunity, because a large enough number of vaccinated people prevents a virus from being able to spread from person to person. The FDA does not permit vaccines to be delivered until it determines they are deemed safe and effective. Both incoming President Joe Biden and his Vice President, Kamala Harris, have personally demonstrated their confidence in the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. That covers several and demographic groups right there. People should not be forced to take the vaccine, but it’s the responsible thing to do.”
One resident, Diane Andersen, who responded that she would not get the vaccine said, “I do not plan on getting the vaccine when it is available for us. There are too many unanswered questions about it. My daughter got her first dose and is due for the second this week. Since the first dose, she has had a cold with an occasional stabbing pain in her head, tired all the time with no energy, and also had the chills. She works for a medical health company and they gave it to all the employees that wanted it.”
Some residents want the vaccine so life can return to what it was, such as Russ Diprizio. He said, “Kathy and I are looking forward to getting the vaccine. We have been isolating ourselves and would like some freedom.”
Some have simple reasons for getting the vaccine. Rita Schank sums up: “I will definitely take the vaccine. As long as Dr. Fauci has recommended and approved it, I have complete faith in it.”
Kenn Ellis agreed, stating, “Mary [my wife] and I have discussed getting the vaccine and we both trust all the work that’s previously been done to get this vaccine approved and to the American public as quickly as possible.”
In the end, everyone wants the same result: for the virus to go away. Cindy Schalk said, “We believe it would be helpful to eradicate the spread of this virus.”
