I'm getting THE COVID vaccine!

Yes, you're reading that right! TODAY! As of Sunday, January 17 I signed up to receive 1 of 150 Moderna vaccines on Sunday, January 24th. Now you may be thinking: "Is she out of her mind? This is way too soon! Why are you getting it soo soon?! It just came out!!! Do you want to be a guinea pig?!" Trust me, I have heard it all lol. And I will kindly answer any, if not all, of the questions that have popped up in your head. So lets's go!

*Disclaimer: I'm not an MD yet, these are my personal thoughts/experiences. For more information, please check out the CDC's website!*

If you've been following my IG, I made the announcement last Sunday that I will be getting the COVID vaccine, and I have receive a lot of feedback and very diverse feedback at that. For many, I am the first person they know personally that will be receiving the vaccine. In my family, I'm the first. Even though I'e tested negative for a series of tests, I knew that eventually I would need to get the vaccine. So when the first doses dispersed, I knew I would eventually be next in line.

"Nia, why are you getting it now? Can you just wait?" The simple answer is "No." But I'm not going to leave y'all hanging like that so let's get into it. As I've alluded to, the COVID pandemic has completely shifted the medical school curriculum. Instead of making our way to campus for lectures, lunch talks, and seminars, almost everything is done from the comfort of our apartments. Yes, this gives us a bit more flexibility with structuring our material to our schedule (shoutout to pre-recorded lectures and 2x speed), but at the same time, there are still parts of our curriculum that are *indeed* in-person. For example, this semester I'm taking Advanced Physical Exam and Clinical Experience. I will be going into hospitals and clinics (next week) where I'm required to interact with patients face-to-face and navigate various clinical settings. I will performing full patient interviews and physical exams where I'm up close and personal with our patients. Yes, I will be wearing a mask, face shield, and gloves, but PPE can only go so far. With a more contagious strain on the loose, I want to have an extra shield of protection.

Secondly, I believe the science. Now, I don't say this to discount generations of historical mistrust for the medical community. Mistrust for the medical field is real (10/10 recommend Medical Apartheid). The history, the documentation, the receipts? All of that is real and must be acknowledged in the present to ensure that history doesn't repeat itself. With saying that, I trust the mechanisms and the virologist, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, (shoutout Black Girl Magic!) who has dedicated herself, her passion, and her purpose to formulating this vaccine. As an advocate for the community and future physician, I understand how and why it is so important to take this leap of faith. Am I nervous? Yes. Do I still cringe at the site of needles and the idea of shots? Yes lol, but even with that, I am still so grateful for the opportunity to receive the vaccine.

To sum everything up, I'm getting the vaccine to protect myself, my family and friends, and most of all to protect my community. I've witnessed, first-hand, how the virus cunningly infects one person to the next. Each experiencing completely different sides of the virus as if it wears a different mask for each of its victims. I'm blessed to say that my immediate family has survived their bouts with COVID, but that's not the case for the loved ones of 400k+ Americans who lost their battle with this virus. Getting the vaccine will give me peace of mind to feel confident in my interactions with patients and feel even better that I won't bring the virus back home to those I care about.

Hopefully this answers some of your questions! I will be posting updates on how I'm feeling after getting the vaccine. Any symptoms, fever, chills, aches, I'll let y'all know because I want you to know the truth and for you to have the inside scoop so you can make the best decision for yourself and for your family.

(You may be thinking, “Did she just say that she has witnessed COVID-19 first-hand?!” Yes, I did and as you can imagine it was an entire ordeal. Keep an eye out for my post coming up about my experience!)