I left Nigeria to come to Canada in January 2020, right before the COVID-19 lockdowns began. Moving to a whole new country for the university was already stressful enough without the added difficulty of having to figure out how to live in this new environment without contracting the virus. It was especially hard to make friends because doctors told me to live separately from other students in order to mitigate my risk of contracting COVID-19, which may be particularly serious considering I have sickle cell disease. It was a lonely period but also gave me the opportunity to learn more about myself, develop new skills, and become my own person.
When the COVID-19 vaccines first came out, there were so many rumors and conspiracies surrounding the vaccines that I was unsure who to trust. I took it upon myself to do some research and talk to my community about vaccination. A local sickle cell advocacy group connected me to a webinar featuring doctors discussing the vaccine and its effects on those with sickle cell disease. They confirmed that the COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and this, coupled with my own reading of the available clinical trials, greatly improved my vaccine confidence. Another factor that encouraged me to get vaccinated was my parents, who are very health conscious because of my sickle cell disease. I get sick easily and even a common cold can lead to serious complications, so my family and I worried about how I would react to a COVID-19 infection. Based on my research, the vaccine seemed like the best way to prevent serious complications if I were to contract COVID-19.
The day I got my first dose, I made sure I was feeling very well because I feared having an adverse reaction and needing to go to the emergency department. Luckily, the only reaction I had after getting vaccinated was a sore arm.
I am happy with my choice to get vaccinated, though I understand that people may still feel hesitant amidst all the COVID-19 vaccine misinformation that continues to circulate. Even if you are uncertain about the vaccines, I think it is so important to have an open mind. Allow yourself to learn from experts and do your own research before making a decision about the vaccination that is best for your health.
