James T.
James T. is the director of Nutrition Services for Thompson Health, overseeing meals for hospitalized patients and nursing home residents as well as the cafeteria for staff and visitors.
Before getting the vaccine, he discussed it not only with his wife but with two Thompson doctors he holds in high esteem – the medical director of Hospital Medicine and a primary care physician who assisted with many of Thompson’s vaccine clinics.
James knew there were many people, internationally, who had worked on the vaccine and that many resources had been allocated toward its development and the testing of its effectiveness and safety. However, the speed with which it became available was a bit concerning to him, and he was somewhat skeptical.
He trusted both of the doctors he spoke with at Thompson and talked to them about everything from the components in the vaccine to what to expect.
He was reassured, but what really convinced him to get vaccinated was thinking about a loved one with asthma. He believes he has a strong immune system “that can handle that type of thing,” but was concerned that he could have COVID and be asymptomatic, unknowingly giving it to someone who could get very sick.
James wanted to protect other people he comes into contact with as well, including coworkers, patients and residents.
“I’m not going to be the reason why somebody becomes ill, and potentially ill in a life-threatening way,” he said. “I don’t know if I could live with myself.”
As someone in a leadership position, James also didn’t want to be hypocritical, urging members of his team to get vaccinated if he wasn’t going to do so himself. He felt that leading by example might give some of them more confidence in the safety of the vaccine.
Taking everything into consideration, “it was kind of a no-brainer at that point.”
James had his first shot of Moderna in late January and his second in late February. He experienced no side effects with the first. After the second, he had some minor muscle pain at the injection site and a small rash that disappeared within 24 hours.
He said he hopes sharing his story will help others consider getting vaccinated.
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