How do you feel about the vaccine? What did it mean for you when your parents decided to get vaccinated?
I wanted them [parents] to get vaccinated, it wasn’t anything I was against. They are in the at-risk population. The biggest thing that got me on board with the vaccine was hearing my dad talk about it. I think one of the biggest things for me was knowing I’m going to be outside. I [actually] keep COVID tests on me because I go out so often, I need to know my status. This second wave is [also] what got me on board, I thought we’d be able to ride it out, but obviously, that is not happening.
Where do you think our community is with building our trust back with health care?
I think that as long as there is access to misinformed opinions, we will always be behind. Everybody has this idea that the government is out to get you. I can’t really say that we’ve made a lot of progress in terms of public trust in healthcare.
Where are you now with being vaccinated?
I think the conversations are important. Everybody has to make their own individual decision. I’m actually concerned about my ability to influence. I was contacted about taking the vaccine publicly, and I wasn’t sure if I was comfortable doing that simply because I want people to make a decision based on their own research and the genuine concern for your life and the lives around you, not what they saw [me] do. With that being the case, you would be wise to protect yourself in all situations, whatever that looks like for you.
For information about COVID-19 vaccines in Chicago, visit www.chicago.gov/covidvax.
