The friendly GP at the hospital corona area asked me, ‘Do you like getting the vaccination?’
‘Not really. It’s for peace of mind,’ I said.
He smiled. ‘The main thing is to relax the muscle.’ This I did.
Afterwards I asked, ‘Why don’t they test for antibodies before these vaccinations?’
‘Good questions,’ he said, and added, ‘We just do as we’re told.’ Not reassuring, of course. Then again, I was just curious, not seeking reassurances.
The GP advised me to sit nearby for fifteen minutes, in case any side effects occurred. Nothing! The jab might as well have been a placebo, which, given the massive fear machine in operation would make sense. I shut my eyes while waiting. The murmur of voices from orderlies, the line of vaccination stations and the people waiting in the hall felt like the gentle surf at a sunny sea shore. I had missed the soothing surf of voices for many months. A revelation! I don’t care for noisy crowds, but the quiet chatter of people in close vicinity fills me with a gratitude for kinship and community.
In no way is this post meant as advice. I remain ambivalent about the pandemic phenomena and the measures employed to stem its spread, including conspiracy theories, acknowledging there may be hidden grains of truth with any perspective. I struggled with the decision of getting a jab, having read and explored opinions, a lot. Nothing seemed conclusive. It was an entirely personal decision. I’m not a martyr for rights or wrongs. The choice was for peace of mind. I’ve family, friends, and my writing to attend to, that’s all.
This Sufi story, re-posted last year is interesting in that respect. https://courseofmirrors.com/2020/04/12/when-the-waters-were-changed-2/
Course of Mirrors 
haven’t had mine yet, but i kinda guess i will… always loved that tale.
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Thanks for visiting. May all be well for you.
The Sufi tale, like many from that tradition, lifts ideas of right and wrong to a different dimension. 🙂
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So, you have been pricked! I am not yet. 😁I wish you all the best 🤗💖
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🙂 Thanks Alaedin. And the best for you, too.
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Hi Ashen. Thanks for your latest post.
As it happens I had my first shot on Monday as I was unexpectedly prioritized because of my volunteer work. It was a Pfizer jab. My house mate, being quite a lot older than me, had the same a couple of weeks ago.
It seems that we are still very much in the learning zone, not only about the virus and its various mutations, but also about the vaccines. Probably this will continue for a long time ahead.
But despite all the unknowns, I admit to an increased, if flickering, sense of reassurance and hope going forward, which is handy psychologically if nothing else. And it seems from the evidence so far that the vaccines are rather more likely to bring benefit than not, notwithstanding the risks of the 3 month interval between shots here in Blighty.
Of course, as your Sufi story illustrates, shared narratives are very powerful and now-a-days the narratives derived from empirical science are often being overshadowed by all kinds of fantastical notions and conspiracy theories such as those courtesy of Donald Trump and his supporters, to name but one source.
Consequently, despite the limitations and prejudices inherent in the empirical scientific approach, I am finding it a refreshingly welcome antidote to the toxic, half-wit drivel pervading the internet. At least it provides a standard of rationality for assessing evidence which, lets face it, has been stunningly successful in many respects in helping us to understand a little of how the world actually works……though very likely not the whole story by some distance! The problem comes when people abandon all standards of rationality and let their imaginations, desires, neuroses and psychoses reign unrestrained.
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Good for you. I also admit to that
flickering sense of reassurance. I, too, had the Pfizer jab, and must now wait for three months to have the second jab. My son would applaud you. He thought including the term ‘placebo’ was flippant of me, given the devotion of scientists who brought us the vaccines. True, cheeky, but my thought was with the soothing of fear, which has a huge place in all healing and, I think, needs to be given more credit. Unfortunately, some of the media outlets thrive on drama.
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I had my Jab on Friday last. They were distributing the Astra Zeneca jab. My husband had been feeling frustrated and annoyed that I was getting my Jab before he had, as he is 6 yrs old than me. As it happened when I mentioned this to the lady inside she told me to tell him to come in and they would do it then and there. So we have both had the vaccine. While I am typing this, I am aware that I am having side effects. A pain, which is annoyingly achy in my shoulder. It feels rather like someone has pulled my shoulder and I hope it goes soon. We also have felt reassurance from having this jab. It has been worrying for so many people and we are all being led blind in the hope we are doing the right thing.
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Led blind applies. I hope your arm finds it joy again. Best things, my friend.
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Congrats on your jab. Glad that everything went smoothly. Hope it works for you well. I wouldn’t risk my life testing any theories, true or not so true:) I put my mask on and go my merry way as I always did. Haven’t had any respiratory virus for a whole year which doesn’t sound like me at all. Thank you, mask:)
Thirteen of my extended family got Covid by now, all of them young people. Stay healthy!
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Will do. You too. Scary, that young people suffer from this virus. Let’s hope immunity kicks in. There’ll always be a new virus, of course. I wrote about this here, probably under the tag Hazrat Inayat Khan. Must dig it out.
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