The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Shortly after the great hurricane Dorian, The Bahamas found itself struggling to deal with an even greater catastrophe brought by COVID-19 – a once in a lifetime pandemic.

In times like these, it is easy for people to fall into despair and hopelessness. Many have taken to social media and other formats to voice their discontent. Some of this vitriol may be warranted but much of it is not based on fact and reason.

The worst of the pandemic seems to be behind us, for now. But the threat still lingers.

Instead of looking at all the negative aspects of this situation, I am thankful to all hard-working medical health professionals that have given so much to help us fight this pandemic thus far. In some cases, paying with their own lives.

My youngest nephew visited the other day and he looked good, for a person who lost his job just as the pandemic hit in early 2020. Pre-pandemic he was a mobile 350 pounds. When I saw him a week ago, he was still a mobile 350 pounds. He has been on a few government-assistance programmes, including food assistance. I am thankful to the government for helping to keep my nephew at his default weight of three fifty and for the support given to many of my family members during these trying times.

Thankfully, I have not required the same assistance as my nephew and other members of my family. However, there is one very important thing that I am personally thankful for – the opportunity to get my COVID-19 vaccination.

In deciding to get vaccinated, I had to cut through a lot of online and social media conspiracies, misinformation and straight out lies.

The numbers became my guide to the right decision. 160 million COVID-19 infections reported worldwide and of that 3.3 million confirmed deaths so far.

1.3 billion doses of vaccines administered worldwide to date and the possible death count from vaccines sits at well under 100 persons.

I am thankful to have gotten my first shot several weeks back and look forward to receiving my second shot a few weeks from now. I do understand, however, that as a country we are tracking less than 1% fully vaccinated. More alarmingly, we seem to have many more shots available than people making appointments to get vaccinated.

I am happy to do my part in this fight against COVID-19, but I am mindful that the real benefit to me personally and to our country will only come when most Bahamians become fully vaccinated.

I hope that all Bahamians will move to do the right thing for themselves, their families and for their country.

Get vaccinated so that we can all experience life without COVID-19 fear and restrictions again.

DWAYNE H LOCKHART-GAILLARD

Nassau,

May 14, 2021.