Conversations With Women: A Frontline Worker on the Pandemic and Getting the Vaccine
A year ago, the world learned about a novel coronavirus that was wreaking havoc in China and quickly making its way across Europe. By mid-March, COVID-19 overtook the state of New York as it spread across the U.S.
In the early weeks and months of the raging pandemic, my 26-year-old sister Allison suited up in her scrubs and PPE as she headed to work at a neighborhood pharmacy as a frontline worker. Through curfews and quarantine restrictions, Ally continued to work as a pharmacy tech, exposing herself to a deadly virus for the sake of our community.
New York is among the hardest-hit states by COVID-19. Nearly a year after the virus was first detected in the state, New York has recorded nearly 47,000 COVID-related deaths. Now, New York is aggressively trying to vaccinate its population to combat the pandemic’s spread. According to the CDC, the state has administered more than 3.6 million doses of the vaccine, with more than 1.1 million being fully vaccinated.
I spoke to Ally about being a frontline worker during a pandemic that has killed more than 2.4 million people worldwide and her feelings about the vaccine.
Nikki: It’s almost been a whole year of the pandemic. Could you maybe talk a little bit about what it’s been like being a frontline worker in this pandemic?
Ally: It was definitely hard, especially in the beginning because no one knew how to prepare. We were not provided…accurate PPE. We had to constantly reuse old equipment that we had. We had to wait until corporate would send us [additional PPE]. A lot of people were not following the rules because people just assumed they could still act normal. So it was a bit hard…in the beginning.
N: Has it gotten any easier?
A: People are still getting infected with COVID, but it’s been a lot easier. People now know we have to maintain distance, try to not come into the pharmacy in groups. We used to have [entire] families come in like packs [to the pharmacy]. We’re better staffed than before.
N: But for yourself, has it gotten easier? Have you felt like your job took a different kind of tone, I guess since the pandemic started? Do you feel like people appreciate your type of work more?
A: I wish I could say people appreciate my position in the healthcare field more, [but] they usually tend to forget about pharmacy, surprisingly. We do get people [that] come in and thank us for working. I, personally, have been feeling a little bit more at ease working because, in the beginning, I was terrified of going to work, not knowing if I was going to bring something home, hurting someone. But now, with proper guidelines…it’s been a lot easier.
N: You recently got your first dosage of the [COVID-19] vaccine, is that right?
A: Yes, it was provided by work. I was able to get it and I should be getting my second one in about three weeks.
N: Can you talk a little bit about how it felt being able to get the vaccine? Were you ever apprehensive about getting the vaccine? Did you ever think, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I want to get it so soon?’ Or were you the type of person who knew that as soon as it was available to you, you were going to take it?
A: Usually when it comes to vaccines, I’m all for it. I’m like, go ahead. I did have coworkers that were like, ‘No, I don’t want to get tested. I refuse to be a guinea pig.’ But people don’t realize that COVID is not new*. Just the strand is new. So they’ve had [the] knowledge to make a vaccine. Yes, I was kind of skeptical to get it immediately once it came out, but after [seeing that] the results have been fairly positive, I was like I better get this. I’m the one [at home] who works the most with the public, so I’d rather just get it to make sure I’m the safe one of the family.
N: You work in healthcare in New York. How do you think the state has done in terms of vaccine rollout? Do you think they’re doing a good job? Do you think there are some things they could fix?
A: I definitely feel like they are doing a good job. I think, obviously, there is room for improvements. For example, where I work, if you schedule for the vaccine, they automatically schedule [you] for two appointments to make sure there’s enough for whoever gets the first one. From what I’ve heard [about] New York state, they’ll give you the first shot and then advise you five days before your second one to make an appointment. And it’s very hard to even make an appointment as it is. So there’s room for improvement…
*According to the CDC, while there are other coronaviruses, COVID-19 is a new disease caused by the novel coronavirus that was not previously seen in humans. Since it is a new virus, scientists are learning more about the disease each day. Other coronavirus diseases that have affected humans include SARS and MERS.
Questions and answers have been edited for clarity.