ONE DOWN, TWO TO GO

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We were taking a post-lunch siesta when I happened to notice a voicemail coming in on my silenced phone. It was Ann, my 84-year-old walking partner, telling us – with urgency in her fine British voice - to go to the local posto de saúde (community health clinic). “They’re vaccinating!” she said. I called her back, and by then she'd just gotten her shot, as had another 81-year-old friend. According to an official schedule they were vaccinating people in the upper 90s that day, but Ann insisted they'd vaccinate anybody over 80 – Oswaldo’s age.

We lurched out of bed, put on our shoes, and ran flustered back and forth getting our documents and vaccination certificates. By then Victor was waiting with the car - leaving Ana to deal with the arriving dog-trainer - and he dropped us at the ‘posto’ gate, where a few elderly people were waiting. We were wearing 2 masks each and Victor had suggested I bring my crutch - just in case! We felt rattled, unsure, and hopeful. The attendant asked Oswaldo’s age, and let him though (but rejected me as being too young). We were led to stand in a short line, where we waited for a little while with social distancing to other similar couples until it was our turn. 
 
A female employee at a table took down Oswaldo’s details by hand, writing on what looked like a stack of printed Excel sheets, filled in a vaccination certificate, and wrote down the return date in 12 weeks’ time. Then, finally he got his AstraZeneca shot. It was an incredible moment. We were so so happy. I wanted to take a picture and almost hit a lady with my crutch I was so excited.

 



As we walked out, I sent the picture to the waiting Victor and to the “kids” in Seattle, spreading the joy. We also told our old friends Shep and Leona, who have been sheltering in their apartment since March, and urged them to try their luck as well. They dropped everything, took an Uber from Copacabana, wearing 2 masks and a visor each, and soon were in line and got vaccinated as well. 




Joy all around. Good news for a change.

According to the latest results, antibodies become effective after 22 days, with a 76% protection against the virus. That percentage goes up after the 2nd shot - April 27 for Oswaldo - to 82% or so. My turn to get the vaccine looks to be on March 2, so we calculate that by the end of March we’ll be able to move around more freely, as will Victor, who although young and healthy has been sheltering with us to protect his elderly parents. With us vaccinated he will have more freedom until his turn arrives in June or so.

 

 

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