I'm finally fully vaccinated! Now what do I do?
It's finally here. I am officially a couple of weeks out of becoming fully vaccinated with my coronavirus vaccine. For those who read my previous post, trying to obtain a vaccine as a person with a disability has been a long, difficult road.
You've heard me talk about all the issues those with disabilities were having to try to get a vaccine early on in the vaccination process. But unfortunately, the vaccination was virtually impossible to obtain in places across the country.
It's finally here. I am officially a couple of weeks out of becoming fully vaccinated with my coronavirus vaccine. For those who read my previous post, trying to obtain a vaccine as a person with a disability has been a long, difficult road.
You've heard me talk about all the issues those with disabilities were having to try to get a vaccine early on in the vaccination process. But unfortunately, the vaccination was virtually impossible to obtain in places across the country.
After successfully navigating the past year and trying to avoid exposure to the coronavirus, I was eager to try and get the vaccine as soon as possible because with my current health condition, contracting the coronavirus could prove fatal if I were to test positive for it.
Testing positive for COVID-19 weighed heavily on my mind over the past year as we dealt with quarantines and closures. So when I heard about the vaccine, I spent a lot of time trying to see if I could get a vaccine for myself.
But due to supply issues and state government procedures, those with disabilities were put towards the end of the line and had to wait our turn. Eventually, my time did come and I welcomed the opportunity with open arms, even if I had a little trouble lifting my arms on my own.
Now that I am fully vaccinated, I do feel more secure and confident that my chances of contracting COVID-19 are slim, but that does not mean I am fully comfortable being in public. I am very much still hesitant to be in large groups and spend little time in public places. But I feel it’s safe enough to venture out to places with appropriate safeguards and social distancing measures.
The vaccine is a signal that we are moving back towards normal, and we are now starting to return to public life. But we must still maintain caution and try to avoid any future outbreaks.
The vaccine has given me the insurance I need to help me fight against the possible chance of getting COVID-19, and I strongly urge those with compromised health conditions to get the vaccine as soon as possible.
Yes, I'm disabled and still waiting for my COVID-19 vaccine.
In 1997, I was fighting to survive. A severe cold and asthma complications left me paralyzed with a collapsed lung. I spent eight months in the hospital and relied on a ventilator to breathe.
It was a frightening time for me and my family and a day doesn’t go by without me thinking of that ordeal.
More than 20 years later, I have adjusted to life as a person with a disability and the fear of being so close to death has subsided. But with the rise of COVID-19 and the current uncertainty of getting access to a vaccine, the possibility of me being hospitalized is a very real possibility.
In 1997, I was fighting to survive. A severe cold and asthma complications left me paralyzed with a collapsed lung. I spent eight months in the hospital and relied on a ventilator to breathe.
It was a frightening time for me and my family and a day doesn’t go by without me thinking of that ordeal.
More than 20 years later, I have adjusted to life as a person with a disability and the fear of being so close to death has subsided. But with the rise of COVID-19 and the current uncertainty of getting access to a vaccine, the possibility of me being hospitalized is a very real possibility.
Even worse, it could all be avoided.
Coronavirus vaccines are making their way into the arms of seniors and essential workers across the country. While that is a welcome sign, those with disabilities and high-risk medical conditions appear to be forgotten by officials and are still not prioritized in many states, including Arizona.
If you happen to have a medical condition or disability in Arizona but still are under the eligible age of 55, you are still waiting for your opportunity to get vaccinated. This is the current predicament I find myself in.
As I wait, I limit my trips out in public. Any exposure to COVID-19 could prove deadly. With my asthma, diminished lung capacity and compromised immune system, I could find myself back in the hospital fighting for my life. It’s an experience I never hope to never have again.
But thanks to officials at the Arizona Department of Health Services, people like me are left to fend for themselves as we wait for our opportunity.
In a recent article in the Washington Post, a startling statistic caught my eye. Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities are two to three times as likely to die of COVID-19, according to the article. Many across the country like me are still waiting to get the shot. With a stat like that, you would think that those with disabilities and medical conditions of any age would have been moved to the front of the line.
The decisions regarding vaccine eligibility are supported by the Arizona Vaccine and Antiviral Prioritization Advisory Committee (VAPAC). This group, comprised of state, local, and tribal experts, and health care partners, provides recommendations for the state’s eligibility requirements. In a recent post on the ADHS website, VAPAC recommended expanding eligibility to those aged 55 and higher. Its reasoning was described as “to protect those who are most at risk for severe outcomes due to COVID-19, such as hospitalization and death.”
But those with disabilities and high-risk conditions under the age requirements are still not eligible. And that is simply and equivocally wrong.
We deserve better. We should not be seen as an afterthought in mainstream society. Yes, our lives require additional support and care from others. But that doesn’t make our lives any less of a priority or importance than our normally-abled counterparts. We deserve to live our lives the way we want to, without fear or confinement, held up in our homes, away from public life.
How can ADHS say their decisions are intended to protect those at the most-risk from COVID-19 when they are deprioritizing one of the most at-risk populations? How can a relatively-healthy 65-year-old man be considered higher risk than a 37-year-old quadriplegic with asthma and 1 and a half lungs? Or even a 20-year-old person with Down Syndrome?
There are numerous articles online asking this question with no answers from any officials. Here are just a few:
The silence from them is deafening and that ignorance could result in deaths that could be prevented with early access to the vaccine.
For now, I continue to scroll through my social media feeds and see photos of people getting their shots. Many of them are of various ages, occupations and ethnicities. Most appear relatively healthy and a few have high-risk conditions. It gives me a severe case of a “fear of missing out” as I see many who are less at-risk of COVID-19 than I get access to the coronavirus vaccine. Unfortunately, my current case of FOMO is accompanied by a very real fear and a risk of hospitalization and death.
WATCH: ADHS speaks about COVID-19 vaccinations for high-risk conditions
Fans have a new way to meet celebrities during the pandemic
While the convention floors may be empty for a while, COVID-19 has given fans a new way to meet their favorite celebrities: virtual meet-and-greets.
I’m a self-proclaimed nerd. It all started as a young kid collecting “Spawn” comics and watching “The X-Files.” in the 90s. Even today, I still proudly wave my nerd flag into my 30s as several original drawings of “Daredevil” and “Batman” adorn my office walls while a custom “Gundam” model keeps me company near my desk.
There are many rites of passage in “nerdom,” but perhaps one of the biggest is attending conventions. I have been lucky enough to attend many local comic book conventions and even attended the great San Diego Comic-Con a few times.
I’m a self-proclaimed nerd. It all started as a young kid collecting “Spawn” comics and watching “The X-Files.” in the 90s. Even today, I still proudly wave my nerd flag into my 30s as several original drawings of “Daredevil” and “Batman” adorn my office walls while a custom “Gundam” model keeps me company near my desk.
There are many rites of passage in “nerdom,” but perhaps one of the biggest is attending conventions. I have been lucky enough to attend many local comic book conventions and even attended the great San Diego Comic-Con a few times.
But due to the pandemic, it may be a while before we are able to return to large gatherings like conventions. While the convention floors may be empty for now, COVID-19 has given fans a new way to meet their favorite celebrities: virtual meet-and-greets.
Zach and I briefly chatted about his role as NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner.
With the help of video conferencing technology, fans are now able to meet stars of their favorite movies, TV shows and video games without ever having to leave their home.
My first experience with this new virtual interaction was with “Chuck” and “Shazam” star Zachary Levi. An online convention was offering a virtual one-on-one hangout with Levi. I decided to participate in the event. And I was pleasantly surprised with the whole process. I enjoyed it so much, I did another meet-and-greet at a different virtual convention to meet “Shooter” and “The Flash” star Shantel VanSanten.
Yes, Shantel was a pleasure to chat with.
Overall, both video chats were great. Before the session, I sat in an online waiting room. A counter then lets you know your place in line. On average, the chats lasted between 3-5 minutes. I was able to ask a couple of questions in each video and converse with the stars for a few minutes. You normally are able to do a quick chat when you meet celebrities during autograph sessions at conventions, but these video sessions feel a little more personable with the one-on-one chats.
After the chat is over, I was able to download a video of the meeting to watch later. I like this feature. It’s a neat memento that I wouldn’t normally have if I met these stars in person.
As a nerd and lover of all things pop culture, I can appreciate this new opportunity for fans. It’s a unique experience and having the chance to meet and interact with some of my favorite celebrities is something I thoroughly enjoyed.
Experiences like this cost anywhere from $60-$300, based on my quick online research. I definitely recommend this for anyone out there who would like to say hello and chat with some amazing personalities.
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What it's like covering the coronavirus
COVID-19. Coronavirus. Social distancing. Welcome to the new normal (for now). I and many others across the state of Arizona are transitioning to a new way of life. Living rooms are now offices, solitary walks around the neighborhood are daily workouts and Zoom meetings are a popular tool for social interaction.
The pandemic has taken hold of the globe's attention and the world watches and scrolls for updates on the fight against COVID-19.
And I am one of those who have the privilege to provide an essential service as a journalist to help keep my community informed during this tumultuous time.
COVID-19. Coronavirus. Social distancing. Welcome to the new normal (for now). I and many others across the state of Arizona are transitioning to a new way of life. Living rooms are now offices, solitary walks around the neighborhood are daily workouts and Zoom meetings are a popular tool for social interaction.
The pandemic has taken hold of the globe's attention and the world watches and scrolls for updates on the fight against COVID-19.
And I am one of those who have the privilege to provide an essential service as a journalist to help keep my community informed during this tumultuous time.
It's an honor to be able to be of service during this time and I will remember this moment for as long as I live. We transitioned to a work-from-home environment and the dynamic of news gathering is adapting to our new environment. Many newsrooms are relatively empty, but the news is far from gone. People like me get up every morning and roll up to our computers and begin checking for updates. My day is filled with checking emails, interacting with co-workers on Zoom, speaking with sources and developing content.
It comes in many forms in today's news-consumption landscape. From articles and videos to social graphics and tweets, I help share information on the coronavirus and tell the story of those affected by the outbreak, Not all of it is bad; for every article about the rising case numbers or updated social distancing requirements, there are those moments of hope. Stories about neighbors helping neighbors and kids sharing positive chalk-written messages help balance the intense reality we're currently living.
So for now, I’ll continue to cover this unprecedented event with pride and a great sense of duty. For as long as it takes.
And for everyone reading this, be sure to continue to wash your hands, keep your (social) distance and stay positive. As the great Harvey Dent said, “It’s always darkest before the dawn."