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Nursing Student’s Share Their Perspective of the Covid Vaccine

Last updated on Feb 17, 2021

By Jillian Mehta, Arts & Entertainment Editor

There are currently two authorized and recommended vaccines for the COVID-19 virus: Pzifer BioNTech and Moderna. New York State is doing a phased distribution of the vaccine and is the currency in phase 1a and 1b. Phase 1a and 1b include high-risk hospital workers, healthcare workers, and individuals that are age 65 and older.

Nursing students at Post have been keeping up with the virus through news sources.

“There are two kinds, Pfizer and Moderna,” sophomore nursing major Daniella Connor said. “Both vaccines require a follow-up or second vaccine to complete the dosage.

Connor explained how the coronavirus vaccine is different from most others.

“These vaccines aren’t like normal vaccines that release a weakened version of the virus into your body, they use mRna that essentially “teach” the cells in our body to make a protein that will trigger an immune response to the virus,” she said. 

Junior nursing major Antonette Dalfino has also been keeping up with the vaccine and is hopeful about its progress.

“It seems to be working well so far and has similar side effects to the flu vaccine which people around the world have gotten for years,” Dalfino said. “I am very hopeful about the vaccine and that it will hopefully let everything return back to normal.”

Connor is also optimistic about the vaccine.

“So long as everyone keeps doing their part to stay socially distant and wearing their masks I’m very hopeful,” she said. “If the vaccine becomes available to a majority of the US population it’s possible the pandemic that has been dragging on and escalating for so long might finally start to see numbers decline.”

Both Connor and Dalfino know people who have received the vaccine, and say that they will take it once the vaccine is available to them. 

“Both of my parents have been vaccinated because they are considered essential and healthcare workers. We haven’t seen any adverse effects in either of them, so hopefully, [it] all turns out well,” Connor said “I definitely would take the vaccine if given the opportunity to. I’m trying my best to keep myself and everyone around me safe.”

Sophomore nursing major Nicole Carano has had family members receive the vaccine but is still hesitant to take it herself.

“I personally wouldn’t take the vaccine just yet. I will probably wait until they know more about the long term side effects,” Carano said. “Plus, I’m in no rush to get it being that I don’t start my clinicals until September. I would rather give people who need it more than me the opportunity to go first.” 

The pandemic has affected Connor’s thoughts about the healthcare system, but overall hasn’t changed her path to nursing. 

“COVID has made me a little more skeptical of the US healthcare system than I was before,” Connor said. “Seeing doctors and nurses putting their own lives at risk because the US could not provide enough PPE for healthcare workers to work safely definitely rubbed me the wrong way, but hopefully with time and reform the healthcare system will become better equipped for employees and more accessible for patients.”

Dalfino agreed with Connor.

“COVID has made me nervous to go into the medical field because it is so little we know about the virus,” Dalfino said. “However, with the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and continuous handwashing and sanitation, I still feel very excited every time I have a clinical day so I could help people who are suffering.”

Carano said COVID hasn’t worried her for herself, but for her family.

 “Honestly, I’m not nervous for myself, especially knowing the survival rate for my age group,” Carano said. “I would only be nervous to give it to my family.”

Most college students aren’t likely to get the vaccine until April when the vaccine is projected to be available to everyone.

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