January 27, 2022
My name is Elizabeth McDonough and I am part of the Our Voices Matter Advisory Council. I have been part of the Vaccine Working Group since early 2021. The Vaccine Working Group talks about the COVID vaccines. We helped make a new Christian Horizons policy. We also helped make webinars to help educate people on vaccines. The webinars were to update you about what is going on with vaccines in your area and they included question and answer sessions.
COVID vaccines came out in 2021. People in Christian Horizons started getting them in April and May. I was so super excited, and I was really glad to get it. I asked some of the other Our Voices Matter self-advocates how they felt after getting their vaccines and they said they were happy to get it. They all felt pretty good; they generally just had a sore arm.
Recently we’ve been talking about vaccine passports and how to carry them with you. I am double vaccinated but I have the hardest time remembering to carry my vaccination paper. I can’t remember to bring it with me in my pocket or my wallet. I need some little tricks to remember to bring it with me.
Some of the other Our Voices Matter advocates shared their tricks. Here they are:
- Dean took a screenshot of his receipt and laminated it to a small card size so it fits nicely in his wallet. He keeps it with his ID so that he remembers both of them together.
- In the North district, some people have passports on lanyards at the front of the house by the door. On one side is the vaccine proof and on the other side is a photocopy of their photo ID. They can wear the lanyard around their neck so it’s easy to show.
The third dose of the vaccine is becoming available for some groups. The third dose is made up of the same ingredients as the first two doses. It helps your body keep fighting the virus off. I know it doesn’t work 100% of the time, due to a family member of mine getting COVID after being double vaccinated and still landing in the hospital. But we still know that getting vaccinated is what’s best for us to do to fight off the virus.
Dean and Elizabeth offer some thoughts for people who are not sure if they want to get vaccinated:
- “You realize you’re putting everyone at risk including all the people you work with? If you don’t get the vaccine and you get COVID, something bad might happen. I took the vaccine and I’m fine. I had a little side effect and I’m still here.” (- Dean)
- “If you want to see people like me who aren’t allowed to see other people because of my medical condition, you need to get the vaccine.” (- Elizabeth)
If you want more information on the COVID vaccines here are some websites:
