Several independent sources declare, and if we are honest, no reason to contradict, that the last 2 decades were one of the happiest, most peaceful period in human history. Hardly had any wars compared to previous centuries globally, many diseases could be cured or prevented, had food and water to consume, even in the poorest countries things got better. I can recommend a swedish doctor, Hans Rosling, UN health-specialist’s research and fact quizzes in this topic. He highlights, that things got better during past couple decades even in developing countries, not only in the “west”, and related to this, even most intellectual people have a confused, more than 30 years old picture of the world – quite shocking to realize.
So we started 2019 in this social situation without any “training” before, when a little virus could turn our whole, previously known world upside down, and made us prove, that humans are still able to adapt to environmental circumstances. Right now it seems, that science was able to provide solution, but to make it complete, every single person needs to contribute.
Preliminary steps
In Hungary a governmental, very quickly fillable form is the only official option to register for vaccine. These collected data are transferred to your GP (your “personal”, local doctor), who hopefully knows everything about your medical history, and also able to decide, which vaccine is good for you. At this point, you have no chance to cherrypick between vaccine types.
It was the end of January, when I applied for, and almost 3 months later, yesterday received the first dose. I think it is quite good considering, that I am 33 with no serious diseases, and I declined the first vaccine from another company 3-4 weeks ago. Why did I do this?
Quick health history
The answer is pretty straightforward: a little more than 1 year ago, I had got hospitalized for more than 3 weeks with a simple Campylobacter bacterial infection’s side effect: Guillain-Barre syndrome, which is an autoimmunish disease with (in most cases temporary) paralysis. I have the most wonderful GP of all, who really cares about patients, and considering circumstances, so I was put into another vaccine’s waiting line. One day I answered the phone, and accepted the proposed vaccine planned for the weekend.
Expectations
I hoped as fast process as possible in the vaccination center, no people in my 2-meter radius. Expected so much waiting in different lines, justifiably frustrated healthcare workers and generally impatient people. What happened really?
Reality
My appointment for vaccination was at 11:30, Saturday, but arrived much earlier, because I wouldn’t want to make a whole country wait. Pushed the front door of the hospital, a soldier immediately stopped me: disinfection time! Some fluid onto my hands, some questions about health, yes, everything is okay. Next room was a big hall, separated logically: you need to register at left side, soldiers checked your data with appropriate respect and some humour to encourage lightly frightened people. In the middle of the hall, at another desk, two people in white jackets double-checked my health condition (without measurements or any technical device), and tell me where to wait. After a short period, a nice nurse / doctor asked me to go behind the blue curtain with her, and while her colleague checked my address, where vaccination cards can be sent to, I got the vaccine in my chosen arm (left). I double-checked, which vaccine it was. After leaving the separated premise in the middle, I was asked to wait for my first certificate at the right, where three girls edited these papers with all data, most importantly with the date and time of my next dose of vaccine. After like 15 minutes, a soldier shouted my name gently (I know gently shouting may sound weird, but it happened), and handed my papers over with reading some lines (for checking purpose) loudly, such as my name, mother’s name, birthdate and next vaccination time.
Summary
The whole process is well-organized, every people knows his or her job, health workers are extremely nice despite the tremendous work, and even soldiers can be funny in a good way, while keeping order. I appreciated all the help and hard work these people have beeing doing for the whole country for more than a year, and now I am even more grateful. For the second vaccination I definitely plan to carry some goods (chocolate, bonbon, etc.) for thanking them – it’s not much, but can be a gesture of being valued. They all deserve the highest appreciation and respect.
