“Basically, since this whole COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020, I’ve seen what this can do to patients and their family members, and it’s very heartbreaking. That’s why, when the vaccines rolled out in December, I was actually one of the first ones to line up. Because I knew that, at last, we had something that could protect us from this really horrid illness that we have.

“I understand the hesitancy because it is a relatively new vaccine; but, I just want to assure the people that the FDA has meticulously reviewed all these approved COVID-19 vaccines. And time and time again, real-world data shows it’s safe and it’s also effective in protecting people from COVID-19, especially from severe illness as well as death.

“So, with the risk of this COVID-19 now, now is actually the perfect time to be vaccinated. Not just to protect yourself, but your family as well as your community. So, it is important because protecting yourself is also protecting others around you – mainly your loved ones as well as your community – especially those who cannot take the vaccine, those who are children and those who are immunocompromised who cannot mount the right immune-response even though they want to; but because of their immune system being low. Protecting yourself is protecting everyone as well, so that’s why it is very important.”

Abigail Santos, M.D.