I got my first dose of the COVID Pfizer vaccine today, YAY!! I was able to sign up my mother as well. I live in one of the most impacted zip codes in Oakland with some of the highest rates of infection. I got vaccinated because I want to protect myself, protect my community, and encourage others to get vaccinated.

I have done my research and I listen to scientists and to community leaders that I trust. I feel safe taking this vaccine. There is so much intentional misinformation targeting communities of color about the vaccine. It took me weeks to convince my 72 year old mother to get it because she was at first very resistant due to conspiracy theories.

It breaks my heart to see how many white people are getting vaccinated compared to Black and Brown people! It’s straight up vaccine apartheid. We need to do more to make sure that Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities get vaccinated because we are the worst impacted. I know the history of medical racism so I understand why there is mistrust, and it’s important to note that many BIPOC social justice leaders are encouraging our communities to get vaccinated.

I included here a photo of my Mom. She was so nervous so I’m glad I went with her. She said in Spanish that “it didn’t hurt.”