Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Somerville folks are a tough breed.

If you grew up in the Somerville of the 50’s 60’s ’70’s and 80’s, we survived some wild times. We’re not about to just give in to a virus that has completely messed up our way of life. Our inborn sense of survival and common sense will hopefully guide us through the deadly storm of the Coronavirus.

Pfizer rolled out millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. Fantastic! Finally, a glimpse of light at the end of a long and costly tunnel. Bravo to the scientists who worked painstakingly hard to get these vaccines to the world.

The subject of will you or won’t you get the first COVID-19 vaccine is almost as heated as the recent election was. The first round will go to health care workers and residents and staff of long-term care, and then those who need it most.

I threw it out there. “Are any of my 65 + year old friends going to get the vaccine?” Both sides were adamant about their opinion, but first, a look back.

“In the 1950s, the polio virus terrified American families. Parents tried ‘social distancing’ – ineffectively and out of fear. Polio was not part the life they had signed up for.” “In the United States, the 1952 polio epidemic became the worst outbreak in the nation’s history. Of the nearly 58,000 cases reported that year, 3,145 died and 21,269 were left with mild to disabling paralysis.”

My sister, my brother and I were born between 1952 and 1956 and I can only imagine what my parents went through. Now my age group, is in the high-risk age group again for COVID-19. Is that going full circle or what? From Polio to COVID in a lifetime. Hopefully the COVID-19 vaccines are as successful as the ones for polio.

The following comments reveal how a few of my Somerville friends answered the question, “Are you going to get the vaccine?” I chose the most colorful responses. Comments are in quotes.

“Absolutely … I’m only 53 … I worked for these folks at MIT … now my former boss founded Moderna. There is nothing to be afraid of. These brilliant researchers and scientists have my Full trust and confidence.”

“Sure, why not? Then in 5 to 10 years we will see lawyers on TV saying if you got the virus vaccine in 2020 then you can sue the vaccine company. They’re rushing this out without testing. Sorry, I’m no one’s guinea pig.”

One of my many of octogenarian friends was next: “Yes, I will take it I’m 80 years old … the more people that take it, the more that this thing will disappear we hope.”

“Not until I see what happens to the millions before me that get it.”

This next lady was very poignant: “I am under 65 with pre-existing conditions. I have done an incredible amount of research and spoken to people I know in the medical/research community, plus a few of my physicians. I am definitely getting it.” She goes on to say, “You can live in fear of the unknown without it. Or live in fear of the vaccine. Mine is to choose to live life. It is everyone’s choice but it is simply not just about us but the people around us.”

The next guy is going to wait and see: “Maybe after I see how it’s going in The UK and here, after they start giving them and see how people are responding, especially older people.”

So, the majority of Somerville people I asked said yes, they would get the vaccine as soon as they can. Let’s pray that the vaccines are successful and people are spared any more pain and sickness. Hopefully we will send this virus packing as soon as possible the way the scientists of the 1950’s squashed polio.