I’ve been asked a few times why I’ve gotten the COVID vaccine.

I can give you the proper answers about efficacy and how we’re in a pandemic and we’re all trying to survive.

But…those aren’t my real answers. Those are just my professional answers.

First and foremost, I decided to get vaccinated because I’m exposed to it every single day. Multiple times per day. And I just don’t want to be responsible for giving COVID to my family and especially to my daughter with asthma.

Secondly, I decided to get vaccinated because I don’t want COVID. Yep, it’s that simple. I had asthma as a kid and I don’t know how I’d do with the virus. I’d like to guess I’d be fine. But I don’t really know. And my life isn’t worth the gamble.

Lastly, I decided to get vaccinated because of all of my patients who have died from COVID. I decided to get vaccinated because of all of my patients who survived COVID but had a stroke as a result. I decided to get vaccinated because of all of my patients who survived COVID but the had to watch their family members die. I decided to get vaccinated because, quite frankly, I’m tired of COVID. I’m tired of death.

I remember the day I dealt with my first case of COVID as an outpatient family medicine provider.

I remember being thankful for PPE and thankful that we had testing to determine if this person had COVID or not.

But the tricky part was that the result of this test, the very first one we had, could take up to 2 weeks to come back.

I remember sweating under all of my PPE while I did the exam.

I remember sweating a bit extra because I was anxious.

I remember…my patient…young…overall healthy…smiling, despite the fever, muscle aches, cough, and runny nose.

I remember getting the result. But it was too late. The patient had already died.

I remember getting tested. And waiting.

I remember receiving a negative result.

I remember my relief.

I remember.

The real reason I’m getting vaccinated is because I remember the ones who never had a chance to get vaccinated.

I’m getting vaccinated because it’s my way of paying tribute to all of my COVID patients.

I remember. And I’ll never forget.

Please, consider getting vaccinated and pray for those who are currently fighting COVID.

We’re in this together.