Being thankful for getting a mRNA vaccine at 28 weeks pregnant

General

How is the situation in your city/ country? Is there a 2nd wave yet?
The US has finally got caseload down – we had 3 surges in the first “wave” that really happened over the entire last year.

How did the atmosphere in your country change within the last months?
We are finally at a place where the majority of the country is opening up – vaccines really helped contribute to that even though each state has been fluctuating on their own with regulations.

How are you and your family?
We are good! I got pregnant during COVID so we welcomed our little one last month and my husband has been able to be home throughout the pregnancy and birth which was great.

What was the biggest challenge for you within the last months?
My husband tours with bands as an audio engineer so he hasn’t worked in over a year and our state has made unemploymnet really difficult. But I’m so thankful that we were okay and we’re on the other side of that. I know other’s had it much worse. It was also really difficult to see how many people rejected science and evidence.

It was really difficult to see how many people rejected science and evidence.

Measures

When did you realize how serious the situation is?
Probably in May 2020 when everyone started haphazardly opening up very quickly and without enough precautions.

How did your government react to the crisis? Which measures/restrictions were taken first?
Not well – I’m not going to lie I was not very concerned with COVID in Jan and Feb 2020 because I assumed that our government would be competent enough to handle it.

Are you satisfied with the measures of your government? What was good/bad?
Oh no, COVID was made very political very quickly and it really ruined our ability to combat it.

What would you like to say to your government?
Listen to your public health teams.

Which sentence of a virologist/politician did you memorize the most?
I’m not sure I memorized or even remember anything specific…except maybe that we were told so many times that the virus “would just go away.” And that’s not how it works.

COVID was made very political very quickly and it really ruined our ability to combat it.

The Virus

Do you know anybody who was infected with COVID-19 or even died?
Yes, both.

Have you already done a Coronavirus test or have you been in quarantine?
I had to take some tests for work, but I did not test positive and I was never quarantined.

Are you afraid of getting infected with the Coronavirus?
A little. The long haul symptoms are what I am most afraid of, the fact that symptoms can be different make it very unpredictable, and the fact that even young healthy people can get hospitalized. I would also feel SO horrible to pass it on to others. I don’t even like coming to work with a cold.

The long haul symptoms are what I am most afraid of, the fact that symptoms can be different make it very unpredictable, and the fact that even young healthy people can get hospitalized.

The lockdown

How long is/was your lockdown and what was allowed/what wasn´t?
I’m not sure our state was ever really locked down. There was a small period of time in late April/ early May 2020, but then our state was basically a free for all. Our city is very progressive so we had some capacity limits and were required to wear masks until recently.

Did you spend the lockdown time with somebody and what did you do during this time?
I am thankful to have been able to spend so much time with my husband. His job has him traveling all the time so this was actually the first time we’ve been home together for months on end.

What did you miss the most during the lockdown? What helped you?
I missed traveling to see family, oh and our belated Hawaiian honeymoon that we were supposed to have. But it was worth knowing that we wouldn’t be contributing to spreading the virus and potentially being responsible for someone’s death.

I am thankful to have been able to spend so much time with my husband.

Changes

How did your work situation change within the last months (shorter hours, working from home, etc.)
I was able to work from home during our lockdown and then work just part time in the lab after. Definitely did much more from home, and probably worked shorter hours too. I did take up more advocacy and education on social media so I was busy for more hours though.

How did your social life (relationship/friendships/dating) change due to the Corona crisis?
Most of my family and friends are not local, so my social life was pretty non-existent, I was happy to have my husband home and spent lots of time texting and video chatting.

What impact has the Corona crisis on your financial situation?
My husband has been out of work since March 2020 so that was fun! We spent less money being home most of the year though, so we were very lucky to make it out okay.

Social distancing: How does your daily life look like at the moment?
We have a newborn at home so I’m completely content sitting on my couch most of the day. Hah! I would be comfortable slowly venturing out, especially if we could do things outside and/or around other vaccinated people.

Most of my family and friends are not local, so my social life was pretty non-existent.

Perception

Who are to your opinion the heroes of this crisis?
Scientists, those in public health, everyone who banded together in their communities to ensure that we made it through this thing.

What did the crisis show you?
Oh boy, I’m actually really disappointed in how selfish I found out so many humans are.

What will you appreciate more after the crisis?
Time with the people I love. Time in nature. Coffee shops. And humans who are willing to be inconvenienced for a short amount of time for the betterment of humanity.

Which images will you never forget?
The freezer trucks used as morgues. The mass funderal pyers in India.The makeshift COVID wards in parking lots.

Which stories/incidents/experiences touched/shattered you the most?
All of the stories shared from healthcare workers about how horrible it was to see patients dying alone in the hospitals everyday yet seeing people eating out at restaurants and bars on their way home really hit my heartstrings.

I’m actually really disappointed in how selfish I found out so many humans are.

Perspective

What are you afraid of right now?
That we won’t adequately control COVID-19 before mutants make it much worse. That we’re severely unprepared for the next pandemic.

What gives you hope?
mRNA and viral vector vaccines – they work incredibly well and appear very safe based on all of the data we currently have.

Are you planning to travel within the next months?
Yes, we’ll drive to see my family next month and then are considering flying a month after that.

Would you get yourself vaccinated against COVID-19?
Yes, I have been vaccinated for ~5 months now. I got one of the mRNA vaccines at 28 weeks pregnant and was SO thankful for that opportunity.

What can we all learn from this crisis?
1) Who you elect to run the country is really important, they may need to handle a pandemic. 2) We’re in this together- and the only way out is for everyone to sacrifice just a little for the greater good of humanity. 3) Invest in science!

If you could give 2020 a headline, what would it be?
All we need is love [and respect for each other’s lives].. and science!

mRNA and viral vector vaccines give me hope – they work incredibly well and appear very safe based on all of the data we currently have.