I’m asking my family, friends, acquaintances and strangers not to approach me via phone, email, text or social media with any vaccination questions. I don’t want to be asked if I’ve been registered (supposedly), scheduled (no) or vaccinated (no) because my anxiety about this issue is extreme.

I do not want to hear about their search for a viable phone number, their impatient wait for a call or an email with scheduling information. I don’t want to share information after Zooming about getting registered. I don’t want them to provide me with a new phone number. I don’t want to hear that someone’s gotten a vaccination despite having had a recent case of COVID.

I don’t want anyone to remind me that the large private medical practice where I’m a patient has provided very little guidance on when vaccinations might be available for me. I definitely don’t want to hear how happy or relieved anyone is that they have scheduled or received a vaccination. It is not that I am not happy for that person, but I am so very unhappy for me and the countless others in my tier waiting for the phone to ring or an email to arrive granting access to that elusive happiness.

The vaccines seemed like the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, but I can’t even get into the entrance and the discouragement is starting to take a toll on my emotional health. If other people keep their glee to themselves, I promise to do the same.

Barbara Dee
South Portland