Voices of Essential Employees on Their Covid-19 Vaccine Experience
The COVID-19 vaccine seems to be a point of hope during the worldwide pandemic that started about a year ago. It has almost marked a year since the world shut down for two weeks while the virus had a high spread rate. I took some time to interview a few people on their experience with the COVID-19 vaccine. Here is what they had to say in a series of seven interview questions.
by Nicole Stocker
Brenda Fletcher
How did you feel about getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
Although I did have reservations about receiving the vaccine the pros outweighed the cons not only at work but visiting elderly relatives. It was still a trying choice.
Were you forced by employment to get the COVID-19 vaccine or did you volunteer to receive the vaccine?
I was given the choice & was free to decline to receive the vaccine without threat of losing my job. There were advantages to getting it such as not having to wear full blown PPE if vaccine taken. And then rewards were offered to get the vaccine. I understand the benefit to everyone receiving the vaccine. No “punishment” such as losing job or other retribution was (I feel) imposed.
If you chose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine voluntarily, what helped you decide to do so?
The lessening of the possibility of spreading the virus to the vulnerable residents I care for as well as friends & family. Hopefully, it will help keep me healthy as well so no time with family or work time is lost. 🤞
Were the resources you used for the COVID-19 vaccine free to you or covered by work related insurance?
My insurance was billed first & then what it did not cover my employer covered.
If you received the COVID-19 vaccine for free, would you have gotten the vaccine if it wasn’t free?
It would depend on the cost.
According to a John Hopkins Medicine article, there is a 95% effective rate of preventing a wide range of effects of COVID-19 symptoms in both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Do you think the COVID-19 vaccine has positively effected your health so far?
I have no proof of a benefit yet; I can only hope. I DID experience some negative side effects such as joint pain fatigue & a tooth loosened 4 days after receiving the first shot & it came out within a week.
Did you have to sign any sort of waiver on your life before the injection of the COVID-19 vaccine?
I did have to sign a consent form. If my life was included in the consent it was in VERY SMALL print.
Rae Humphrey-Deney
How did you feel about getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
I was worried at first about getting a shot. I thought how effective can it be? It was put together in a few months. My doctor said that I should get one being a teacher.
Were you forced by employment to get the COVID-19 vaccine or did you volunteer to receive the vaccine?
I volunteered to get the shot. We were not forced to get one.
If you chose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine voluntarily, what helped you decide to do so?
I have COPD and working with kids, I thought I better get one.
Were the resources you used for the COVID-19 vaccine free to you or covered by work related insurance?
We received our shots for free through the school district.
If you received the COVID-19 vaccine for free, would you have gotten the vaccine if it wasn’t free?
If it were not free, I don’t know if I could have gotten one. Do not know if the insurance would pay for it.
According to a John Hopkins Medicine article, there is a 95% effective rate of preventing a wide range of effects of COVID-19 symptoms in both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Do you think the COVID-19 vaccine has positively affected your health so far?
I just received my first shot and waiting on my second shot. So far, no side effects.
Did you have to sign any sort of waiver on your life before the injection of the COVID-19 vaccine?
No we only had to fill out a form for health reasons.
Tre Oates
How did you feel about getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
I was comfortable with it. I think it is my responsibility as a member of the community to protect myself and others from COVID-19.
Were you forced by employment to get the COVID-19 vaccine or did you volunteer to receive the vaccine?
My employer offered the vaccine as a voluntary thing. I was not forced or coerced in any way to receive it.
If you chose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine voluntarily, what helped you decide to do so?
The main thing that helped in my decision to receive the vaccine is twofold: 1) I did not want to contract the disease, and 2) I want to protect those around me by ensuring I cannot give it to them.
Were the resources you used for the COVID-19 free to you or covered by work related insurance?
It was offered at no charge, as I work in the healthcare field.
If you received the COVID-19 vaccine for free, would you have gotten the vaccine if it wasn’t free? It really would have depended upon how expensive it would have been.
According to a John Hopkins Medicine article, there is a 95% effective rate of preventing a wide range of effects of COVID-19 symptoms in both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Do you think the COVID-19 vaccine has positively affected your health so far?
Well, seeing as I have just received my second dose within this week, I don’t think that I can really gauge the effects on my health, either positive or negative.
Did you have to sign any sort of waiver on your life before the injection of the COVID-19 vaccine?
I did not have to sign a waiver of any sort in connection with receiving the vaccine.
I thank my interview group for contributing to this article. I’ve heard some people are relieved for a solution to combat COVID-19 while others are skeptical that this vaccine came out too quickly. These are the voices of people in healthcare or educational professions. The three people I interviewed work in the Western Illinois and Eastern Iowa area. Brenda, Rae, and Tre have generously discussed through a series of seven questions about quality, effects, and cost of taking the COVID-19 vaccine. Thank you so much for your time and dedication to crowd control as we continue to carry on though this pandemic.