Seeing mom finishing her 2nd dose of Covid-19 vaccine was the most satisfying feeling of all on Monday,5th July, 2021. I guess, just like any child, I was particularly relieved that at least she got vaccinated and there is some form of protection against this deadly Covid-19 virus which is still going through much mutation. It often makes me wonder how crippled our country had been, together with the rest of the world, when this pandemic hit the nations of the world!
My mom, Tan Ah Moy is 78 years old and she is still very much an alert woman. She is strong mentally but her legs had started to fail her at this stage of her life. I guess, mom’s tenacity each morning of 100 leg lifts had somewhat helped her to be better a bit these days. I was pleasantly surprised that she could walk a good distance but I insisted on using the wheel chair when I wheeled her into the vaccination hall as it would be faster and more efficient. Mom smiled and agreed with me when I told her the logic behind it. She said I was being in my wily side again! Well, I was just doing what was best for her.
You see, mom has always had this side of her that she would no inconvenient us in any way. Even in her pain peak at her legs, she would just walked on and endured the pain. Hmmmnnnn…..somehow, now I know where that stubbornness and high pain endurance ability comes from. Afterall, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree , right? Anyway, she has been cheerful about getting her Covid-19 vaccine and when I informed her that she would be getting the Sinovac vaccine during her first vaccination, she said it is alright. It doesn’t matter what vaccine was given as long as it is not salt water! I guess, mom is like that – a little “cincai” type.
This time around , there was more question of how she coped with the 1st dose, any side effects and so on and so forth. Mom was cool and answered calmly that she is okay and ready for her second dose. I was also proud of mom as she is calm and very steady in a sense. I still told her that I needed to put her in the wheel chair so that it would ease our journey to the vaccination booth. She laughed and smiled at my reasoning again. Honestly, the long walk from registration to verification to final vaccination can be quite a walk away for a woman of her age. So, it would much easier to get her on the wheelchair and moved her around. I must say that the frontliners working at the vaccination centre are really professional people. They had ensured that everything is in order and ensure smooth transition from one counter to another. I must thanked them for really taking the trouble to ensure that everything is in place and running with machinery smoothness. In all honesty, you could see the fatigue creeping on them but they just shouldered on. Patiently explaining , questioned and even ensuring that all data are correct before the administering of the vaccine. I am extremely thankful for the dedication, care and hardworking in ensuring the smooth running of the vaccination process.
As I walked mom to the vaccination booth, two nurses had readied the vaccine and politely asked me to leave the booth so that one of the nurses could administer the vaccine. I did so politely but at the corner of my eye, I wanted to make sure that mom got her dose. I guess, I was just being paranoid in a way but I just wanted the best shot for mom. Who wouldn’t want it that way for their moms , right? Luckily, I came to my senses that I shouldn’t be doing this as these are professionals and they should know what they are doing. So, I just averted my gaze away from the cloth opening and prayed that mom would be in good hands. Within minutes, the vaccination is over and I managed to wheeled mom out of the booth. I immediately asked mom if she was alright. She quipped, “ No pain at all. Everything is good.” I was happy for her and went to another counter to get the registration of the full vaccination digital certificate and finally the required “sit and rest” area. We posed for photographs at the vaccination stand before heading put of the centre. Before we left, a small crowd has started to gather at the centre for their vaccination shots. More people are now getting the vaccine shots.
In all honesty, I wished more centres could be opened up for quicker vaccination. I am really hoping that people at the outskirts and the inner sanctum of the country would be able to get their vaccination. At this pandemic and difficult times, the Health Ministry should be getting into these inner places and areas to administer to the people their vaccine shots.
Just glad and relieved that mom had had her shots done and completed. What a relief, indeed! I am often reminded by this wise old saying : “ A mother can take care of 10 children but not all 10 children can take care of one mother.” So, take care of your father and mother especially at this difficult times and at all times!
