"My Why" By Marcie Backus Rn Director Of Quality

Why did you decide to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? I decided to receive the vaccine because as a nurse, I saw the impact a COVID-19 diagnosis made on our patients, their families, and our community members here in Richmond.

What would you like to say to those are who hesitant to receive the vaccine? I think it’s very natural to be hesitant of a vaccine that seems new. I did my own research and didn’t rely on the media to sway my decision. What I learned from that research was that the vaccine’s technology has been around for a long time. There’s no virus in this vaccine. The vaccine helps your body prepare to encounter that virus and fight it better.

What would you say to those who are worried about the Emergency Use Authorization or side effects? There is no virus in this vaccine. The mechanization of action it uses helps your body learn how to protect yourself. The side effects that you may encounter are far less scary or concerning than if you received a COVID-19 diagnosis. We have seen about at least 15,000 people come through the Richmond vaccination clinic. The side effects they have reported have been very minor.

What would you say to those who think it may not matter if they don’t get the vaccine? I would ask you to talk with the family or friend of someone who has had COVID-19. There are so many people that have lost loved ones, and everyone who gets the vaccine is part of the bigger process of reaching herd immunity.

What made you feel safe to get the vaccine? I felt safe to receive the vaccine after I did my own homework and reviewed the literature. I also listened to the physicians here at Baptist Health Richmond. Their support for the vaccine, getting the vaccine themselves, and their encouraging their patients to get the vaccine also made me feel safe.  

What were your worries and how did you work through them? I think my fears were very similar to most peoples. It felt rushed, but when I did my research, I learned the vaccine’s technology has been out for a long time and it has been improved upon each year.

What was the significance of this vaccine to you? It meant I was doing my small part to protect my family, myself, my friends and coworkers, and everyone in the community from getting a virus I may carry without realizing it.

This interview was conducted in the summer of 2021, prior to organizational decisions regarding employee vaccination status and booster recommendations.