Now the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage in the United States. As a consequence, countless others are in a state of alarming, hypervigilant anxiety over their own health and over the health of family, friends and neighbors. From the Black community to healthcare leaders, diverse voices are asking to increase vaccination access yesterday. Their experiences everywhere speak to the human cost of this ever-present and growing crisis.
To be sure, Madison Heckle, a 33-year-old attorney, is managing the final stages of wedding planning. Her short-term worry, though, isn’t what’s on the itinerary for her big day, it’s her health. Heckle contracted Covid-19 in 2021 and has since struggled with frequent illnesses.
“Ever since then, I just sneeze at everything,” she said, emphasizing her permanent susceptibility. In the days leading up to her wedding day, she is terrified that she will still be bedbound when she walks down the aisle. The weight of the stress of possibly getting sick hangs over all her plans.
In Portland, Oregon, 40-year-old hairstylist Haley has the same concern. Working hand-in-hand with clients every day, she is keenly aware of the dangers faced in her profession. Her biggest worry is for her 79-year-old husband, specifically the passing of Covid-19 to him.
As a person who works in a public-facing job, I deserve to get vaccinated. I want to get vaccinated to protect myself and the people I serve,” she said, voicing the panic that many Americans continue to experience over vaccine eligibility.
Nurse oncologist Dr. Byers’ age of 78 and health condition add to Haley’s concerns. The threat feels all too real for her, as each day she risks his life through her routine interactions. This new urgency increases the imperative for vaccination.
Tammy Hansen, a 61-year-old retired librarian from Illinois, offers a parallel story. Her husband, at 59 years of age, likely will be ineligible for that vaccine. As a caretaker, Hansen is extremely concerned about the prospect of inadvertently infecting him with the virus.
“I want the vaccine so I can double protect her from getting Covid,” she stated, emphasizing her desire for personal safety and her commitment to safeguarding her family.
While in Los Angeles, Elena is experiencing major health concerns in her own life. Now at home undergoing chemotherapy before undergoing a new round of treatment, she shares a big fear of which being that she could get Covid-19.
“Would my vaccination be enough to protect me if the person I live with gets infected? No, likely not,” Elena said. She underscored the challenges of ensuring health security in the time of a pandemic. Her experience highlights the critical need to improve vaccination access for individuals with complex health needs, including people with pre-existing conditions.
This disproportionate fear surrounding Covid-19 even continues over to younger generations. Zeke Fraser-Plant, an 18-year-old high school senior, who has witnessed his family’s struggles with long-term effects of the virus. He fears that his father’s brain fog and his mother’s intermittent loss of smell may indicate lasting issues stemming from their Covid infections.
My dad currently suffers from severe brain fog. For five years now my mom has completely lost the sense of smell. And then it goes back on and off,” he told us. As Zeke himself said, his biggest fear, if he were to become exposed to the virus, was tragic.
“I’m freaking out too that I may end up killing someone I love by bringing it home to them,” Zeke said. His concerns ring true for many young Americans today. Frequently they find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place—fulfilling their responsibilities while creating collateral consequences that harm our most vulnerable.
Read Zeke’s full statement below, including his plans to travel abroad if needed to obtain a vaccine. In fact, he suggested that leaving the country for the vaccine could soon be required. This illustrates the desperation so many are experiencing from lack of access.
The sentiments of these leaders is hitting home with Americans all across the country right now. As communities face ongoing challenges related to Covid-19, healthcare professionals emphasize the importance of following scientific evidence in addressing public health concerns.
As an emergency physician and a father, Dr. Roger expressed his anger at the spread of false information about vaccinations. As an emergency physician, I dread the thought of seeing more children and adults falling seriously ill and even dying because of the lies promulgated by this administration, all of which are preventable. His comments illustrate a broader angst among healthcare workers over how the public feels about and trusts vaccines right now.
As vaccination rollout continues and variants spread, things are still developing. In this short documentary, Madison Heckle, Haley, Tammy Hansen, Elena, and Zeke Fraser-Plant tell their individual stories. Collectively their stories compellingly shed light on what Covid-19 has meant for families and communities of color.