I'm very excited, and feeling a little guilty...

[Trueblue Texan]

...about getting the Covid-19 vaccine in the morning! I have to drive to Houston, a two-hour drive. But I'd drive all day and night to get that vaccine. I know I work in health care and work with vulnerable populations, and Covid-infected populations, I still feel a little unworthy, given what health care workers in hospital ICUs go through. I hope they've all been vaccinated.

[The empressof all]

1. I'm so excited for you!

You deserve it. I can't wait to get mine. I'm hoping to be in the next round after you all on the front line.

[onecaliberal]

2. So happy for you! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[MLAA]

3. Good for you, nothing to feel quilts about. You are in healthcare

working with vulnerable people. Have a good trip!

[NoRoadUntravelled]

4. I'm excited for you, as well.

Perhaps it would help you let go of any guilt feelings by looking at it from another vantage point. Once the vaccine has done its job and you're no longer vulnerable to Covid-19, it means that those in your circle, your family, friends and others you come into contact with are not at risk of catching it from you.
Both the vaccines and wearing the mask make life safer for ourselves and those we love. Everyone benefits.

[JDC]

5. I think you are doing your patriotic duty

My sister is in healthcare and she got hers last week. It was drive through. Shot, then a 10-15 min staging area to ensure no allergic reaction.

I told her the same thing. You are forging the way for the rest of us. Thank you.

[bdamomma]

6. Roll up

your sleeve. I feel so bad how our Nurses, Drs. and hospitals are overwhelmed with Covid patients. So sad, we did not have to be at this juncture.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

7. Let us know how it goes.

Any side effects or no side effects..and congratulations.

[Hugin]

8. Wave away that guilt, TT!

Get it done!

How exciting!

[Laffy Kat]

9. I understand both your excitement and your guilt.

Had mine on the 24th. One feeling I wasn't expecting is the increased fear of contracting the virus now that I'm almost there. My booster shot is scheduled for the 18th of January and I guess a week later I should be fully immunized. Until then, I'm terrified and I didn't feel that way before. I've always been extremely careful, but now I'm fanatical. Today I read about a nurse who came down with covid six days after her first shot.

[mwooldri]

10. If you work on the frontline and are exposed to Covid...

Then get that jab. No need to feel guilty. My wife got her first one today, she works in a hospital lab and she processes Covid tests. I'm just a "delivery boy" (truck driver) so I'll wait my turn but those frontline healthcare workers exposed to Covid and nursing home residents need theirs first. Then other non medical frontline workers who are exposed to Covid. Then us "essential workers". Then the kids. Then everyone else.

[Trueblue Texan]

11. Thanks for the comments, DUers...

I am proud to take the vaccine now. We all need to roll up our sleeves as soon as vaccines are available. Thx for your words of support.

[aggiesal]

12. I wonder if they only have 1 vaccination facility per county? n/t

[AllyCat]

13. You are not unworthy! We all feel so grateful when we get this vaccine

Just go, drive carefully, and count your blessings if you are so inclined.

It makes the weight of this craziness ever so slightly...lighter!

[Rhiannon12866]

14. Good for you, nothing to feel guilty about!

Sure sounds to me that you should be one of the first to get it, just sorry that you have to go so far. My friend got her first vaccine shot last week, she works in the local hospital ER with psychiatric patients, but it's a hospital ER. She had to drive over an hour to a major hospital to get it since the local hospital didn't have the necessary required refrigeration, but she said all the health care workers there were grateful to get it. And she said her arm hurt a little just at the beginning, that was it. Good luck!

[ailsagirl]

15. Excellent!!

👍👍👍

[Roy Rolling]

16. You earned it

Don’t feel guilty, nobody begrudges your vaccine after the sacrifice you’ve made.

[3Hotdogs]

17. Don't feel guilty. I'm getting mine tomorrow and my qualification is that I am 78 years old.

That is my only qualification. ....

seems that all the nurses, physicians and so forth in our county, have been served. So, geriatrics like me are next.

[Trueblue Texan]

21. Yayyyyyy! I'm so happy for you!

Eat well, drink plenty of fluids, exercise very lightly and REST! Yeeeehawwww! Congratulations!!!

[iluvtennis]

18. And don't feel guilty, you work in healthcare area and you

your receiving the vaccination should be a priority. Have a safe drive.

[herding cats]

19. I'm thrilled for you!

Don't feel guilty, you need to protect you so you can keep being there to do your job, too! You are essential.

[Warpy]

20. It doesn't matter if you mop the floors or work in the kitchen

You don't have to be ICU staff to have your own ass on the line and be terrified of bringing the virus home to your family or from outside your workplace to the vulnerable patients. Direct patient care of any kind isn't the only part of being a front line worker in health care.

So get that shot with a clear conscience.

[Trueblue Texan]

22. Home health is far less stressful than hospital setting right now...

...but lately, it's getting scarier and scarier. Lot's of patients turning up with Covid out of the blue it seems, also bringing it home from rehabs. Mostly, I'm terrified I'm going to bring it home to my family or to another patient, even though we follow every precaution: gown, gloves, mask, face shield. Those ICU folks follow precautions too, yet many of them have gotten sick and some died from Covid. This time next year, we will all remember this time with a groan and much gratitude that it has passed. I look forward to being able to bring my own therapy equipment into the home again, something I won't do with a raging pandemic.

[Warpy]

24. Different strokes, I guess, I found home health incredibly stressful

and I got my shiny new nursing license just as AIDS hit. I still preferred hospital work to home nursing.

[JI7]

23. Remember that getting the vaccine helps protect others also

nobody should feel guilty unless they are like Rubio .