Vaccines: The light at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic tunnel?

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Finally, we have hope that the COVID-19 pandemic is ending!

Three months ago, I was teary-eyed while watching the first trucks containing Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine roll out of the company's Michigan factory. I knew then that the road to eradicating COVID-19 is still long and rough ahead, with this being one of the biggest mass vaccination programs in world history.

With such a big project and a limited amount of vaccines at any given time, I knew that I'd end up at the tail-end of the vaccination program in California. Nevertheless, I already can breathe easy because the rest of my family is now protected. Anna, Biboy, and Daddy—all working in the health care sector—are the first in the family to get vaccinated. Mommy got vaccinated soon after because the government prioritises senior citizens. Then Barbara too, because she's an essential worker. 



2020 was a long and difficult year for everyone I know; we had to find our "new normal" as we lost our lifestyles, our face-to-face connections with family and friends, and the work-life balance brought about by physical and spatial barriers between home and office. 

But someday, when this is all over, babies born just before or during this pandemic will be able to socialise with their peers or cousins in playgrounds, families can visit each other again, and we can resume enjoying the opportunities for travelling. Until then, though, we try out best to wear our masks, keep our physical distances, only go out of the house for essential services... and get vaccinated!

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