Letter to the Editor: Overcoming Vaccine Entropy

The following is a letter to the editor. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily representative of those held by Pacific Media Group or Big Island Now. The following has not been edited for content.

“From the get-go, the national COVID vaccine rollout was a lesson in entropy. Entropy is the force that works for complete chaos and randomness. It rules the universe, including human activities. Each US state was free to do its own thing, and supplies of the vaccine flitted like dust in the wind. I have been impatiently waiting until my age group becomes eligible for the shots and hoping leadership would overcome entropy.

I write this letter to share that the management of the vaccination process in Kona has overcome entropy. Yesterday, I got my first vaccination. It was pleasant and a breeze. The clinic at the Kona Community Hospital was exceedingly organized. I used the CDC website VAMS (Vaccine Administration Management System) and made an appointment at the Kona Clinic. I walked in, was greeted most pleasantly, and provided my ID and insurance card. I was given a short questionnaire in an almost empty waiting area and then guided to an injection station. The nurse was amiable and gave me my shot while I jabbered away, unaware of the needle. We vaccinees waited 15 minutes to make sure we did not have an allergic reaction. After that, I was free to go.

I choose to do my regular swim at the Konawaena Pool. I think the arm exercise moves the vaccine material around a bit. Now a day later, the arm only has faint soreness. I made my booster appointment that afternoon. I will go back in three weeks to another shot in an enjoyable experience.

Starting today, my chances of getting COVID 19 begin to drop like a rock. By my second shot, I join the ranks of the immune. In so doing, I find much peace knowing I will never be a COVID virus factory, potentially infecting many others. This is my responsibility, my kuleana, to help establish ‘Community Immunity.’ In so doing, we help to keep our people resistant to the hotter strains of the virus.”

-Dr. Richard Bennett, Big Island of Hawai´i