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Vaccine Talks: My Mom Is Diabetic, Cleans Offices And Is Not Eligible Yet For The Vaccine. Or Is She?
Maria Alvarado. (Photo by Amanda Alvarado)
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This is part of a series of conversations that Cal State Northridge students had with loved ones about COVID-19 vaccinations. Planning your own conversation with family or friends? Here are some tips.
Amanda Alvarado, San Fernando
My diabetic mother has been required to clean potential contaminated areas of COVID-19, risking herself to disinfect areas for other employees. Yet, even after explaining the situation to her doctor she was told she needs to wait until around April for the vaccine.
Then I found out the city of San Fernando, where we live, was supposed to receive vaccine priority codes on March 8 that anyone could access. But when I signed up, the city informed us earlier this week that they had not received any priority codes. I kept trying. I was able to schedule us both an appointment for next week to get our first dose of the Pfizer vaccine through a COVID-19 ambulatory clinic opening in North Hollywood.
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Now I worry more than ever how my mother’s body will react to the vaccine due to her chronic illness and I was upset with how she is deemed ineligible, yet we see areas on the wealthy Westside, like Beverly Hills, where a quarter of its residents already received their first shot of the two-dose vaccine.
My mom remains optimistic as she waits for "her turn" but it's not fair to see her have to wait when others in affluent areas are cutting ahead of those of us who are in greater need of the vaccine. Yet, we are in this process together, remaining resilient through the unexpected that is in our direction.
READ THE REST OF OUR 'VACCINE TALKS' SERIES:
- Getting My Father Vaccinated Before He Gets COVID-19 Again
- When Will My Teen Brother, A Cancer Survivor, Be Protected?
- Convincing My Grandparents That Bill Gates Did Not Want To Microchip Them
- My Mom Is A Teacher, But She Did Not Want To Be First To Get Vaccinated
- My Grandmother Surprised Me On The Vaccine
- When Your Dad Supports The Vaccine And Your Mom Thinks It’s Dangerous
- For My Grandmother, It’s Like Polio All Over Again
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