2020 was total survival mode. I know many people would say the year was spent simply trying to keep their heads above water. Within the matter of a week, for some in one day, our whole world seemed to shut down.
Now there’s a glimmer of hope here in the United States in the form of two vaccines that are being made available to those captured in phase 1, and in some states phase 2, of vaccine distribution.
And, while that’s been wonderful news, for some the decision to be vaccinated has come with its own sense of internal turmoil.
To help you through this leg of the journey, I want to offer you collective themes I’ve been noticing, my thoughts on those themes, and then some helpful tips in making your decision.
Themes
We are inundated with extreme messages that lead us to believe we need to be either anti-vaccination or pro-vaccination.
While neither anti-vaccination nor pro-vaccination is inherently “wrong”, this way of thinking can remove our ability to see the grey area that can be so helpful in making the most informed decision for ourselves. We still have free will in this country, and most people feel that is important, which leads me to...
You can absolutely choose to be in conviction about either, AND remember that trying to shove your beliefs down someone else’s throat won’t help anyone. If they’re asking for your opinion, then that’s a different story.
Also, remember you can set boundaries with people giving you their unsolicited advice about the vaccines as well.
People are worried the vaccines are not fully researched and come with risks.
Here’s the deal— this is true. That’s why both are being distributed under an FDA emergency use authorization. There are still some populations that haven’t undergone any or lengthy research trials. So, this isn’t irrational thinking on your part. It makes sense that you’d feel worried.
People are experiencing all sorts of feelings about the vaccination rollout process. I’ve heard everything from people feeling that the roll out phases were unfair to people cutting vaccination lines (Grrr!).
I get it. And, here’s the hard truth. When the goveronment needs to make a decision for literally EVERYONE in the country they will be letting people down. None of us, including our elected officials have been through anything like this before. So, it’s impossible to make everyone feel seen, heard and valued with a decision this massive.
Like any system, people will mess with it. They will cut lines, lie, or be approved vaccination before it’s their time. And, it’s frustrating as hell when you’re trying to do the right thing! Cue shadow activation!
Hopefully Helpful Tips
You will hear me say over and over that the grey area is where the magic happens. And this is another topic where the grey area is pivotal because it’s about owning YOUR truth, not regurgitated rhetoric. Start to get curious with the grey area by asking yourself these questions:
Do I feel that outside forces are trying to sway me one way or another? If so, how does that make me feel?
What happens if I try to remove that clutter of opinion from my thought process? What thoughts and/or feelings am I left with?
What information do I need to gather to make the most educated decision for myself?
When checking your information, make sure you double check your sources!
Once you have the information, create a pro’s and con’s list.
Now, what are you left sitting with?
Now that we’ve established that some populations haven’t been fully researched in clinical trials, if you’re worried I recommend reaching out to your primary care doctor and asking about specific risks especially if you are immunocompromised, have had significant allergic reactions, are pregnant or breastfeeding and/or have any other health conditions/concerns that are pinging your intuition to check in with your doc. Again, this is how we make the best decisions for ourselves! Here are some questions to consider asking them:
If you were me, with my conditions, would you get the vaccine?
What are the risks to me getting the vaccine now?
Can you share the pro’s and con’s of getting this vaccine?
Yes, I’m sure by now you’ve heard the roll out process has been far from perfect, or, unfortunately, been a victim of roll out curfuffles. (I’m sorry if you have been.) Here are some reframes and action items:
“I have faith in our system to make the most educated decisions for us even if it feels unfair sometimes. I know my time will come.”
If you are adamant that harm is being done, then remember you have the ability to try to help said system come to it’s senses. Think about how best to express your frustrations to those in power. Speaking up and taking calculated risks is empowering and you have every right to voice your concerns!
And, now my favorite “straight to the heart of it” question:
If I _______________, will I have any regrets? If so, can I live with those regrets? I mean this both literally and figuratively.
Lastly, remember there will be many parts of this process you won’t have control over. For instance, you may not be able to choose which vaccine you’re receiving when you show up for your appointment or what side effects (if any) you may get.
Make a self-care plan for yourself before and after your vaccination appointment.
Bottom line, honor all that’s coming up for you, gather the facts, check your sources, and make your decisions from the most informed and empowered place possible. Even if something goes awry, you can rest assured you did your due diligence.
With fierce compassion,
Leah