April 9, 2021 by Glenn Mangurian
“I am not throwin' away my shot
I am not throwin' away my shot
Hey yo, I'm just like my country
I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwin' away my shot”
– Alexander Hamilton from “Hamilton”
Have you received your Covid shot yet? I received my second shot a few weeks ago at Boston Medical Center (BMC) with no side effects. I have been an inpatient and outpatient at BMC for almost 20 years. I was notified to call a number and register. When I called, someone actually picked up the phone after two rings. “Covid scheduling, how can I help you?” I actually talked to a person. How 20th century! The administration of the shots was easy.
My wife and I feel relieved to be vaccinated. All of our friends have also been vaccinated. We can see our children and grandchildren without fear or anxiety. Although we will continue to wear masks, wash hands and socially distance in public, we expect to start going out and socializing more. We plan on the summer vacation that we deferred last year. While we continue to adjust to a new normal, we are much more aware of public health and our responsibility to others.
The vaccines are new, and it’s normal to have questions about them. Some are reluctant to get the vaccination for a variety of reasons – the most common of which is that the vaccines were developed very quickly. There’s a lot of misinformation floating around social media about the vaccines. Some people might not understand that the fastest — and in some cases the only — way to eliminate the threat of a virus, such as COVID-19, is through vaccination. Scientists believe that vaccination is the key to herd immunity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asserts that herd immunity will happen when a sufficient proportion of a population is immune through vaccination or prior illness making its spread from person to person unlikely. As more citizens receive their shot, hesitancy is easing. It is important to remember that children are vaccinated against mumps, rubella and measles.
Talk to your friends who have had the vaccinations. Ask your doctor questions about your concerns, if any. Listen to Dr. Fauci and remember the wisdom of Alexander Hamilton:
“Rise up, it's time to take a shot
Rise up, take a shot, shot, shot
It's time to take a shot, time to take a shot
And I am not throwin' away my
Not throwin' away my shot”
Glenn Mangurian has been a resident of Hingham for 35 years. He is a retired business leader with more than four decades of experience driving innovation and results with his clients. Glenn remains active with his writing, speaking, family, and community.
In May 2001, Glenn suffered an injury to his spinal cord, resulting in the paralysis of his lower body. Drawing on his personal experience, he authored an article titled “Realizing What You’re Made Of,” which was published in March 2007 in the Harvard Business Review. In May 2017 he published his first book, Pushing the Edge of Thought, Possibility and Action – Questions and Insights from Everyday Life.
Glenn Mangurian can be reached at: glenn@glennmangurian.com