I want to live. That’s why I decided to get the COVID-19 vaccine. I believe that by and large, scientists and medical doctors are not some evil, mean- spirited people who want to experiment on all of us and have a scheme to “vaccinate us” so they can keep track of everyone who gets the COVID vaccine. That’s just absolute nonsense. I choose to believe that the doctors and scientists that have been encouraging Americans and people around the world, for that matter, to get vaccinated against the Coronavirus are on to something positive that can go a long way toward protecting us from developing the virus that has killed millions worldwide.
Let me be honest. Yes, at the onset of the conversation about developing the vaccine, then actually having the vaccine become available, first for frontline workers, then for those most threatened by COVID, and then for the rest of us, I was a lil’ nervous. But my commonsense overcame my fear. My faith was also stronger than my fear. So when it was announced that people under 65 could get the vaccine, I jumped to get on a list to get the shot.
For the record, I got the Moderna Vaccine. The only reaction I had after I had both doses was what was expected. My arm was sore in the area where I got the needle for about a day and a half. That’s it. I had none of the other symptoms that some people got, such as chills, a slight fever, or nauseousness. I had none of that, and I do count myself blessed for that. The majority of the people I know personally, who got the vaccine, had similar reports. They had a sore arm. That was it. I had a handful of people who told me they felt lethargic after they got the vaccine and needed a day or two of bed rest. A couple of other people may have had chills. That’s it.
My recommendation is if you did not get your Covid vaccine yet, get it now.
It doesn’t matter whether or not you have health insurance. The vaccine shot is free. That’s just how bad the Government wants to get control over the virus. They want to make it as easy as possible for people to get the vaccine. No excuses.
More and more, we’re hearing stories from various cities across the nation where COVID vaccine promoters are trying to come up with all kinds of “bribes” if you will entice people to come to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Here in Philadelphia, we’ve joined the crowd.
There will be three drawings held in June and July as the city works to increase vaccination rates.
Philadelphia will hold drawings with cash prizes for residents who have received the coronavirus vaccine Mayor Jim Kenney announced Monday as the city joined a growing number of state and local governments offering incentives for vaccination.
Philadelphia leaders have created a concept called “Philly Vax Sweepstakes” which will include three drawings with top prizes of $50,000. In each of the three drawings, two residents will win the grand prize, four people will win $5,000, and six people will win prizes of $1,000. Sounds very good to me. Researchers at The University of Pennsylvania came up with the idea, and the University is funding it.
The goal is to boost vaccination rates in the city’s most under-vaccinated zip codes. The first drawing will be held on June 21 and will focus on the selected zip code 19126 which includes parts of the East and West Oak Lane neighborhoods. The other two drawings will be held on July 6 and July 19.
If your name is entered in this drawing, and you are contacted as a winner and have not yet received a first dose of the vaccine, you will not get one of the monetary prizes. As of press time, 67% of Philadelphia adults have received at least one dose of vaccine, according to city- data. But progress has slowed in recent weeks, and racial disparities persist — especially in people under age 44.
City Council is also seeking to add other forms of incentives. Councilmember Cindy Bass got real creative in May as she introduced two bills that would give res- idents who get vaccinated a $50 credit toward their gas or water bill or a $50 gift certificate from the city. Councilwoman Bass, chair of Council’s public health committee, also expressed support for the new sweepstakes concept.
The Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity has a partnership with Gateway Health and with Rite Aid Pharmacy, and some 15 area churches to do Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics over a six-week period. They were actually supposed to start on May 18th, but because the number of people who pre-registered was so low, the Black Clergy decided to put the pause button on the Vax Clinics and brainstorm a little more about ways to get people to call and pre-register and then show up at the appropriate time and location. Stay tuned on that.
The Black Clergy will be rolling out its new plan for getting people in the African American community vaccinated who have not yet taken that step. Call the Black Clergy Covid Vaccine Healthline at the toll-free number, 1- 877-227-8829 for updates on vaccine locations or email them at
bcpv.health@gmail.com, and someone will respond to your email. If you leave a phone number where they can call you back, that might be more expeditious.
But it’s almost a mind-blower when you think about it. In January, February and March, people were waiting in long lines across the country, and certainly in Philadelphia to get vaccinated. Now, it is like we can’t even give the vaccine away, with prizes and gifts included.
By the way parents, following the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s approval and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s approval of the Pfizer COVID- 19 vaccine for use in teenagers aged 12 to 15, the Health Department announced that all vaccine providers in the city are approved to begin administering the Pfizer vaccine to this age group. The Pfizer vaccine is the only authorized COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 years and above at this time.
If you have a child 12 years old or older, the CDC is recommending getting vaccinated as soon as possible. The Pfizer vaccine is available at many vaccine sites in Philadelphia, including many City-run clinics. Children ages 12-15 can consent to receive their own COVID-19 vaccination, subject to the vaccine provider’s determination that they can provide informed consent. This aligns with a longstanding City policy that gives children ages 11 and above the ability to consent for approved vaccines without the approval or consent of a parent or guardian. On May 14, the Board of Health ruled that this also applies to a vaccine with an FDA Emergency Use Authorization.
A partnership of nearly 50 entities and organizations from diverse faith traditions are joining forces with health care institutions and the City of Philadelphia to launch the All Faiths Vaccination Campaign (AFVC). AFVC seeks to use the power of faith traditions to strengthen the health of underserved communities, provide vaccines to at-risk and marginalized populations across the City of Philadelphia and ensure equitable access of vaccinations to Black and Brown communities through education to help close the racial disparity gap in vaccination access in Philadelphia.
The AFVC is an intentional effort to minimize some of the various barriers that continue to preclude members of the Black and Brown communities from getting vaccinated, according to Rev. Dr. Malcolm Byrd, President, and CEO of Forum Philly and one of the key organizers of this effort as one of the Campaign Co-Chairs.
“Even though vaccination rates are continuing to go up and we’re returning to some degree of normalcy, Black and Brown communities are still lagging behind due to multiple factors,” Dr. Byrd said. “Through this campaign, we’re looking to mobilize the influence of our faith leaders along with the resources within the medical community to overcome some of these chal- lenges.”
The AFVC started concentrating its efforts on the Memorial Day holiday weekend through the commemoration of Juneteenth on June 19th. For more information, please visit www.allfaithsvaccinationcampaign.org and #HopeandHealingPhilly on social media.
