While many whites living in developed economies brag, display their righteousness and post pictures online, many minorities struggle seeing their family members get sick and die during this pandemic. Is vaccine clout chasing the new face of racism and bigotry?
Marina, a Colombian teenager, watches helplessly as her sick mother struggles to breathe at home. Her dad died of COVID in March and she’s been home since losing her job at a local business. Vaccination In Bolivia has been distributed at a very slow pace despite the raging spread of the virus and thousands are unable to get proper treatment if infected with COVID. Marina, while taking care of her mom at home and with few entertainment options, browses the internet when she has time. Instagram is one of her favorite social media platforms.
How does she feel seeing so many posts of people clout chasing after taking the vaccine? In a private chat we had earlier this month, she expressed frustration. She told me “Its not about being right or wrong. My dad didn’t get the vaccine and got really sick. We didn’t have any way to help. It was impossible to get care here with so many people infected”. It was a really heartfelt conversation and led me to rethink the whole vaccination paradigm. What if one vaccine given to the most impoverished minorities saves more lives than the vaccine given to the Starbucks drinking, Star Wars cheering, Netflix watching wealthy North American cosmopolitan?
With so many minorities in struggling communities unable to get any treatment should they get sick, is eagerly gobbling up every vaccine dose available really what an ally should do? We in America have access to literally “first world class” medical assistance. When it comes to it, what help would be more effective: vaccinating at-risk communities or wealthy whites, eager for that “gram shot” and #vaccinated hashtag?
A similar conclusion can be derived from the mask crisis: Did people forget in early 2020 when masks were completely sold out all over the US? Yea…. you are that person that bought all the masks, leaving nothing for anybody else.
After some reflection, I concluded that I can’t feel comfortable with myself if I take this vaccine now. I called and cancelled my appointment. If it means a few more months before I can get back with my life, so be it. There are lives on the line and I pledge to only take the vaccine after the less favored communities are taken care of. I can get treatment if I get sick, they cannot.
