Why I Got Vaccinated
Tanya Anand, MD, MPH Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Burn, Emergency & General Surgery
"I chose to get vaccinated against COVID-19 not only to protect myself, but to protect those I care about. Making this decision has a resounding positive impact on the overall health of my family, friends, patients, and community."
Lourdes Castañón, MD, FACS Burn Program Director & Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Burn, Emergency & General Surgery
"Yo tenÌa miedo a la vacuna, pero, cuando nuestros n˙meros de contagiados empezaron a aumentar vi las consecuencias de las secuelas que el virus dejaba en nuestros pacientes. Esto era alarmante, de ahÌ sentÌ la obligaciÛn de proteger a mi familia, a la comunidad y a mi misma.
La vacuna nos da la esperanza de que si todos nos vacunamos contra el virus, menos nos contagiaremos, m·s vidas se podrÌan salvar y asÌ poco a poco podrÌamos volver a la normalidad."
Mike Ditillo, DO, FACS Geriatric Trauma, Acute Care, and Critical Care Director, Surgery Clerkship Director, & Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Burn, Emergency & General Surgery
"For most people, 2020 has been a year like no other and a year we would all like to forget. As a person, I want my old life back. As a husband, a father, a son and a brother, I want to protect my family. As a trauma surgeon and critical care physician, I want to protect my patients and my colleagues. As a human being I want to help end a pandemic that has caused so much suffering around the world. For these reasons, I got vaccinated.
For more information, go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html or https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-what-you-need-to-know."
Marlon Guerrero, MD, FACS Vice Chair, Quality & Performance & Associate Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology
"La decisiÛn de vacunarse es difÌcil. Escuchamos mucha informaciÛn en la sociedad, especialmente en las redes sociales. Sin embargo, debemos tomar decisiones con hechos cientÌficos. Soy mÈdico pero tambiÈn tengo una enfermedad neurolÛgica. Para mÌ, la decisiÛn de vacunarme se redujo a los riesgos y beneficios. El riesgo de no vacunarse y recibir COVID fue mucho mayor que cualquier efecto secundario de la vacuna. Con mi riesgo mÈdico, contraer el virus puede resultar en la necesidad de un ventilador o, peor a˙n, en la muerte. COVID-19 es cierto. TambiÈn est·n presentes las posibles complicaciones del virus. Para mÌ, el beneficio de vacunarme superÛ con creces el pequeÒo riesgo de efectos secundarios. Los latinos est·n muriendo a una tasa mucho m·s alta, asÌ que insto a toda nuestra gente a vacunarse. PodrÌa ser una decisiÛn de vida o muerte."
Bellal Joseph, MD, FACS Professor & Chief, Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Burn & Emergency Surgery & Vice Chair of Research
Dr. Joseph encourages you to check out: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-0055
Lilah Morris-Wiseman, MD, FACS General Surgery Residency Associate Program Director & Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology
"This last year has been tragic watching entire families become infected with COVID-19. Most people have mild symptoms, but there seems to be no rule about who may be impacted with more severe and long-lasting symptoms. So many patients have died, but many who have lived have been temporarily or permanently disabled from the effects of the virus on the heart or lungs. Available vaccines are about 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 symptoms. I have Type 1 diabetes so may be at higher risk for complications were I to get infected. I got vaccinated to protect myself, my family, and my patients."
Taylor Riall, MD, PhD, FACS Department Chair & Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology
"I got vaccinated because I want to be here to care for others. Protecting myself allows me to do so and allows me to care for my patients and protect the ones I love."
Wei Zhou, MD, FACS Professor & Chief, Division of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery
"[I got vaccinated] for myself, my family, and my patients. Also for our team. Vaccination increase the likelihood that all team members are available to take care of vascular patients and each other."