The best photo I saw this week was a selfie of my father-in-law who had just received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Along with the shot, they gave him a sticker that read, “I got vaccinated!”
As the explosion of vaccines continues, clinics and distribution centers across the country are using things like stickers and even selfie stations with colorful backgrounds to help people celebrate.
The selfie stations are set up as colorful backgrounds, often with pro-vaccine messages tiled with the name of the healthcare provider. This is good brand. And hey, if social media-friendly backgrounds have helped make some trendy restaurants popular, there’s no reason they can not work for vaccine as well.
Added bonus – if the vaccines are given in a healthcare setting, it gives people the opportunity to take pictures without compromising the privacy of other patients.
Vaccine stickers and selfies can boost confidence in vaccines. Just like “I voted” stickers are designed to remind people of election day, “I got vaccinated” stickers are designed to help people see the vaccination efforts in their own community.
In December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed stickers that health workers can wear after being vaccinated. As they were among the first people in the country to be vaccinated, the stickers were an easy way for workers to start conversations with their patients and colleagues about the vaccines, some of whom are reluctant to get the vaccine.
The ready-made vaccination celebrations are also a way to discourage people from sharing their vaccination cards on social media. It can contain personal information, and uploading photos of it can help scammers. A photo of yourself vaccinated with a sticker, on the other hand, does not pose nearly as much privacy risk.
Stickers can also serve the same purpose outside of the healthcare industry. But also; they are super fun. Hitting on a sticker is a chance to celebrate visually in a time when we had so little to enjoy. Also, take a selfie to share with the world. Certainly, there are health benefits for the public to make vaccination visible. It is also pure joy.
How can we thank the health workers and scientists for their sacrifice and service? Receive the vaccine as soon as you can to reduce their load and wear a mask to protect fellow citizens. In my 80th year, I am grateful and hopeful for better days ahead. pic.twitter.com/emGDlnYL2E
– Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) 22 January 2021
I can not yet receive the vaccine where I am, and I probably will not be for a long time. But after seeing so much death and suffering over the past year, it brings me nothing but hope and happiness to see the relief in people’s eyes after they get the chance.
Other people take their vaccination celebrations into their own hands. Not satisfied with the official offers, they dress their best, to wear sequins, and even bring fun bandages to upload themselves to the lap. Vaccines can not yet hold a big maskless party – but a small, important victory. It’s fantastic.
There are still too few people being vaccinated, here in the US and around the world. The deployment was confusing, frustrating and unfair. It still is. Governments can still do much better. But more people are getting the chance every day. In fact, Friday set vaccination records in the US and EU.
Without a doubt, this is something to celebrate.
Here’s what happened this week.
Research
The coronavirus threatens to return. Here’s how to stop it.
Vaccinations are increasing, but so are coronavirus variants. The pandemic is not over yet, but there are ways to make this next phase better than the previous one. (Apoorva Mandivalli / The New York Times)
Coronavirus re-infection will soon become our reality
As the virus develops and time passes, we are likely to see more reinfections of the coronavirus. Here’s how it works. (Katherine J. Wu / The atlantic ocean)
Coronavirus spreads easily in gyms if people do not wear masks
A new CDC report this week looked at COVID-19 outbreaks related to gyms. They found that indoor fitness classes in which people did not have to wear masks made the virus spread easily. (Amina Kahn /The Los Angeles Times)
Development
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine backed by independent FDA committee
A single-shot vaccine received a unanimous green light from an FDA committee on Friday. The meeting came after an FDA report released earlier this week confirmed Johnson and Johnson’s conclusions about their vaccine. (Nicole Wetsman / The edge)
Modern ready to test the version of the COVID-19 vaccine, aimed at worrying variant
Moderna is preparing to test a version of their vaccine that is aimed directly at a specific strain of the virus. The company’s existing vaccine does not work so well against this variant, which is why they are developing a new version. (Damian Garde and Matthew Herper / STAT)
The growing evidence that COVID-19 vaccines may reduce transmission has explained
When they tested vaccines, companies looked at whether the vaccines could not make people sick. And all authorized vaccines do a great job of keeping people out of the hospital and staying alive. But the big clinical trials are not designed to look at how well it can prevent people from transmitting the disease from one person to another. This is a big question that researchers (and everyone else) would like to discover. (Kelsey Piper / Vox)
Perspectives
In every volunteer event I have ever participated in, you have made camp friends, formed quick alliances. To do it that day, when you did not even know who had been vaccinated and who had not, felt aggressive and dangerous. Even keeping the door open for the person behind you during the orienteering tour can violate the required distance. I could not discreetly murmur to my shift mate about who was trying to cut and who was going to get out of hand.
– Irin Carmon writes about her experience as a bouncer for COVID vaccines in Brooklyn for Intelligences.
More than numbers
For the more than 113,507,393 people worldwide who tested positive, your recovery path can be smooth.
To the families and friends of the 2,519,257 people who died worldwide – 5,106,467 of those in the United States – your loved ones will not be forgotten.
Stay safe everyone.