Saturday, February 6, 2021, marked one year since the first known COVID-19 death in the US. It’s hard to believe it has almost been one year since New York City first went into lockdown. We went from going to concerts, hugging people at school, and drinking from a public water fountain, all without a second thought, to wiping down every package that entered our homes, wearing a mask in public, and staying home for weeks straight, not even leaving to buy groceries. Over 500,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the US alone, and that number increases daily. But on December 11, 2020, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine was approved by the FDA. The entire world has been waiting in anticipation for this news, as the vaccine is our best shot at returning to “normal life”- whatever that even means anymore.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most popular vaccines currently. It is an mRNA vaccine, which means that it contains genetic material from the virus that our cells use as instructions to make a harmless protein. Then, the cells destroy the genetic material and create T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that fight the viral proteins. These lymphocytes will attack any COVID-19 proteins that enter the body, preventing further infection. The Pfizer vaccine requires 2 doses, 21 days apart, and it has been said that it takes around one to two weeks after the second dose to develop immunity. The other FDA-recommended vaccine is by Moderna, and is also mRNA and requires two doses.
New York is currently in phase 1A and initial 1B of vaccination. Phase 1A includes hospital workers, people 65 years of age or older, grocery store and other essential workers, and teachers. Around 1.4 million vaccines are being administered daily, with 9.1% of New York’s population having received one dose (as of 2/9/21). At our current pace, 90% of the US population will be vaccinated by December (if people agree to take the vaccine). Over the past couple of weeks, teachers and staff at Fieldston have started to receive the vaccine. Kyle Wilkie-Glass, Chief Operating Officer and Assistant Head of School for Strategic Initiatives at Fieldston, estimates that around 200-300 staff members have received one dose of the vaccine, and around 20-30 staff members have received two doses of the vaccine.
Katherine Kartheiser, Upper School Biology teacher, received the vaccine on January 11. Because of COVID safety precautions, Kartheiser cannot see her family during the semester. “Spending time with my family is something that keeps me going and nourishes me, so the absence of that has been very difficult,” she wrote. She went into the mass vaccination site with no hesitations, and it was very organized and easy, according to Kartheiser. Her side effects were nothing different than those of the yearly flu shot: a sore arm and slight tiredness. But for most, a small side effect is nothing compared to the benefits of getting vaccinated. After getting vaccinated, Kartheiser felt “relief, gratitude, and a little bit of disbelief. It is truly amazing to me that I received a vaccine less than 1 year after NYC went on PAUSE”, she wrote.
For Upper School Spanish teacher Charo Beltran, the pandemic has prevented her from visiting her family in Spain, whom she has not seen in a very long time. She received her first dose on January 14 at a vaccination site in Harlem. “The whole system was very well organized, and everyone was very kind,” she wrote. She had no side effects except for a little bit of fatigue. “I was very happy to have been given the opportunity to receive the vaccine. I will feel happier when everyone has that opportunity” wrote Beltran, speaking for many of us.
