Vaccinated Elmhurst University students feel normalcy is approaching

COVID-19 took millions on an endless rollercoaster full of stomach-dropping twists and turns throughout 2020. Anxiety rushes through people waiting for the ride to stop when at last, the stop appears — the COVID-19 vaccine.  

The U.S. began vaccine distribution on Dec. 14, 2020, for healthcare workers after a long year of fighting for the vaccine. Amongst the 100 million Americans who have been vaccinated, four Elmhurst University students reflect on being vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Karime Martinez, an EU sophomore nursing major, received her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Dec. 18, 2020, through her job as a patient care assistant as part of Illinois Phase 1A for healthcare workers.

Getting vaccinated for Martinez signified control to aid moving society back to normal, but she recognizes the vaccine isn’t the saving grace from removing COVID-19 from society. 

“I felt a sense of responsibility in getting the vaccine in order to establish herd immunity,” Martinez said. “I’m excited for the year to come but I am somewhat fearful of us falling into a sense of security.” 

Martinez explains the false sense of security as people associate the decline in COVID-19 cases as a signal to begin disregarding COVID-19 guidelines. “The guidelines helped us get here and we have to continue following them until it’s over,” Martinez said. “And it’s not.” 

On Jan. 7, Martinez received her second dose and experienced soreness at the vaccine site, body aches, and fatigue which faded after a few days. 

As COVID-19 vaccine rollout moved from Phase 1A to Phase 1B, Dennis Arreaza, Hayley Horner, and Alex Ho made appointments to receive their COVID-19 vaccines. 

Arreaza, a sophomore nursing major, received both doses of the Moderna vaccine on Feb. 12, and March 12, through Walgreens, noting a sense of relief after receiving his vaccination. 

“I have asthma and sleep apnea, so I feel more relieved now that I’m vaccinated,” Arreaza said. “A lot of people are getting vaccinated at a rapid rate so I hope things will return to normalcy soon.” 

As a childcare worker, Horner received her first dose of the Moderna vaccine on March 10. Horner, a junior communications major, recalls checking appointments constantly for a month and a half before securing a date through Walgreens. 

On her vaccination day, Horner stated the process was quick and easy, only having to wait 15 minutes from the time she arrived to be seen by a vaccine administrator. 

Before receiving the vaccine, Horner harbored some apprehension. She worried about the side effects she could experience, based on the stories of people she knew who had been vaccinated. 

Ultimately, Horner experienced nothing more than fatigue and muscle soreness where she received her injection. 

“If you’re afraid to get vaccinated it’s better to risk the potential side effects that could come with the shot that lasts only a day or so than get COVID-19 where symptoms [could] last a month,” Horner said. 

As the number of vaccinated people surpasses 100 million, Horner sees the vaccine “as more trustworthy” now that so many people are receiving it, urging people to get the vaccine as soon as it becomes available to them.

Ho, a junior history and political science major, received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on March 17, through a Cook County vaccination site. After receiving the first dose, Ho felt a sense of liberation.

“It feels liberating to be vaccinated,” Ho said. “Everyone still has to do their part by wearing masks and abiding by distancing guidelines for the safety of others, but an end is in sight.” 

Ho advises everyone to sign-up on their county vaccine portal to be aware of vaccine availability in their area and to remember the research it took to develop the vaccines. 

“Hesitation is understandable, but it’s important to remember how much time and effort went into the development of these vaccines by the world’s leading scientists,” explained Ho. “They are proven to be effective and are necessary for a return to normalcy.”

Illinois is currently in Phase 1B-Plus for the COVID-19 vaccine as of March 21, but Gov. J.B. Pritzker is planning to move Illinois into Phase 1C on March 29. 

1C includes everyone from groups 1A and 1B, but now includes workers in the food and beverage, finance, media, legal, retail, transportation, water and waste management industries. The group also includes those in higher education, public safety, public health, shelter and housing, personal care service, and hygiene sectors.