NEW YORK-(MaraviPost)-It’s official, on Wednesday, January 7, 2021, I received the Moderna Vaccine at the district department of health center an 8-minute walk from my house. This was preceded by a series of communications and screenings to ensure that I qualified for the second tier of persons to receive the vaccine, who are people that work in the health field (other than nurses and doctors) who come in service of patients in hospitals, nursing homes or other areas. Thankfully, I passed the three-part briefing process.

I am 60+ years old person of color, have several pre-existing medical conditions that include a mechanical mitral valve, and take several life-time, life-sustaining medications. In one of the three jobs I hold, I “work directly and on a regular basis with clients/patients in homes or healthcare settings.” This entitled me to get in line for a Moderna Vaccine.

Our company sent out emails that contained information on what employees needed to do to call the county line for the COVID vaccine. If ever I exercised great patience and a heavy dose of determination, it definitely was in calling the number of the district health department office last Monday. A pre-recorded message on the first call, which was in the evening, advised me that “due to long wait times, you are highly recommended to call at a later date. The next day, I resolved not to be deterred, but wait out the call.

The first time, the recording parroted the same “call us back later.” J hang up and call again, I got through but was told “our agents are busy helping other callers, your call is important to us, please continue to hold.”

I held on. my life depended on it.

As a Christian, for one year I prayed and fasted, was a persistent prayer warrior at the Amen Corner, fervently asked the Almighty for protection against the pandemic, whose numbers have relentlessly scaled globally to 88+ million cases, 1,911,096 deaths, in the US to 21+ million infected and 350,000 deaths. When in October, Pfizer announced the breakthrough discovery of a vaccine that was quickly followed by Moderna introducing its vaccine, the news was welcomed with massive and collective great sighs of relief and hope.

While the majority of people living in the US have followed the protocols of the pandemic, handed down by the WHO and the national health watchdog the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the administering of the vaccine had to follow globally determined model: the medical personnel (doctors and nurses) and the elderly, followed by other populations on a tiered basis.

Of course, when my tier came through, I found myself holding onto my cellphone only to hear an automated messenger tell me he considered my call important but made me wait for an hour. I listened to the repeated message like I did as a teenager to Al Green’s love songs. And when I was finally put through to a live person, I was driving and had to find a place to park my car, so I could go through the first of a two-part pre-screening process. The first part was like a chat with an old friend, to determine my eligibility in the tier. I was asked who I worked for, the nature of my work, address of my employer my age, and my contact details.

On Tuesday I received the text message on my cellphone inviting me to schedule the appointment for the first of the two-part vaccine dosage. I secured a place for Thursday afternoon. Ever cautious of not doing the wrong thing, I tread on eggs all the way to the room where my inoculator, Michelle walked me through what she was going to do and what I needed to do.

When asked if I had any questions, I quickly asked her to get me another person to come into the room and capture the moment in a still photo and a video. Michelle happily complied, went out of the room, and brought in Nora to capture this historic moment.

My message to my fellow human beings is for you to get on the COVID vaccine line because it is through “vaccinating the majority of our population that is the only way to eradicate the disease.”

But, since the vaccinated persons may still spread the disease, protocols for preventing the spread of COVID, should still be observed: people should still wear masks when in public, wash hands with soap, and practice social distancing.

Please, when the opportunity arises, get the vaccine! The health of you and your loved ones depends on it.