PULLMAN, WASH –
Dodge Matthews has been waiting for his grandparents to get the coronavirus vaccine
“They’ve been eligible to get the COVID vaccine, but it’s just not available in their rural community. There’s not too many places that actually give out the vaccine,” Matthews said.
“Henry,” a source who wished to remain anonymous, recently got their COVID Vaccine shot, but he is not an essential worker nor was he eligible to receive the vaccine
“It was super easy to get the vaccine. I didn’t have to show them any proof, verification , identification, or anything like that,” Henry said.
After contacting local vaccine distributors like Wal-Mart and Pullman Regional, I didn’t need to show any proof that I was an essential worker to qualify for the vaccine.
Even though you could get the vaccine, is lying the way to get it?
“The virus could kill me! With the cases going up in Pullman, I just want to protect myself,” Henry said.
“I don’t think it’s fair that people are able to cut in line and skip their way to get the vaccine while people like my grandparents who are less technological and live in a rural area aren’t,” Matthews said.
Who should be getting the vaccine has been a debate. According to the Washington State Department of Health, older demographics lead in hospitalizations and deaths, however younger demographics leads in cases, making it easier to spread the virus to people who could suffer more from it.
“I just want my grandparents to be safe, you know? We haven’t seen them, our entire family for over a year. Human interaction is needed, especially grandparents that love their grandchildren,” Matthews said.