Once again we are faced with an opportunity to demonstrate our regard for our neighbors, families and friends as we grapple with COVID-19 and its miscreant gang of variants.
Once again I’ll be holding my breath, preparing myself to be disappointed in us.
The Centers for Disease Control this week gave the green light to children ages 5-11 to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
On Wednesday National City Mayor Alejandra Sotelo Solis, joined by healthcare representatives and National School District officials, gleefully announced vaccines would be available for 4,000 of the city’s students.
Undoubtedly the news is cause for whooping from the rooftop of every elementary school across the country.
But given the behavior and responses of adults over the last year and three-quarters to mitigation efforts, my cries of “Hallelujah!”will be muted.
When news of COVID-19’s arrival first came we behaved as though the collective health and well being was paramount. We accepted mitigation strategies such as social distancing and stay-at-home mandates with begrudging acquiescence.
Then, before there was sufficient science and research behind relaxing some of the approaches, cracks appeared in our resolution.
We started taking our kids outside to parks and public spaces, engaging them in pay dates, for the sake of their social well being. When outdoors were deemed OK, but in small groups, we demanded young athletes and team sports be allowed to gather because these were young healthy people playing outdoors.
When masks were suggested and then required we screamed and protested the infringement on our personal liberty despite the benefit to the public good.
When vaccines for adults and then older children were finally made available we protested some more and in some cases threatened the healthcare providers, teachers and administrators looking out for our own good. We even avoided the shots.
Now here we are. Vaccines for young children are at last available, offering protection to the youngest among us.
Recent history has shown us cause for celebration doesn’t come without party poopers intent on dampening an otherwise joyous occasion. I’ll be holding my breath until they are gone.
