I am beginning to worry about the haves and have-nots of COVID-19 vaccinations.

People who get vaccinated are rightfully very glad and excited, which is right and good. It is a victory for them and for the human race, and it makes us all safer. Very often they openly show their delight to everyone they know. We should all celebrate their success, and enthusiasm may encourage those who are not sure to go ahead and get the shot. But it can be insensitive to people who are not allowed to have a shot. People should realize and understand this.

I truly am happy that people are getting vaccinated, especially for my friends and family. I celebrate each and every inoculation, whether I know the person or not, as another victory against this terrible virus. This battle, this war, will be won one person at a time. And yet it can be depressing to know that I’m not yet allowed to get the vaccine. So I try to celebrate success rather than focus on myself.

If society ever starts opening things up — movie theaters, airplane flights, concerts, restaurants, etc. — to only those who have already been vaccinated and have a special card (I have read talk of this), it will be very hard on those who are not allowed to, or have not been able to, get their vaccine yet. We should not do something like this until the vaccine is widely available.  

Until then, it’s one victory after another. March on.