March 2021 Newsletter

Vaccinations!

Urukundo certainly marched into March with gusto. What an exciting month!

The first week in March will live in my memory. This was the week Rwanda received the Covid-19 vaccine. The first vaccine was to be distributed to health centers on March 5, with the first vaccinations to be given on March 6.

Not being a Rwandan with just my passport for ID, I was not on any listing to receive it. I understood that I would have to make contact, I then would be added, and it would take weeks or maybe months before I would receive notice to go to a health center to be vaccinated.

I had no problem with that. There are so many who are in greater danger.

Much to my surprise at 6 a.m. the very next morning, I received a text telling me I should appear at the Kivumu Health Center that very day (March 6) and the vaccine would be given to me. As is normal, I was being given special treatment. This time, I was grateful for it. Most times, I resent being shown preferential treatment.

Covid-19 vaccine administered in Kivumu in the Cyeza sector on March 6.

Covid-19 vaccine administered in Kivumu in the Cyeza sector on March 6.

Sorry to say I had a very bad reaction to the vaccine two weeks to the day, but knowing travel will never be possible unless you have the vaccine, I am glad I received it and I encourage others to receive it also. It is time to return to sharing hugs and kisses. The vaccine, masks and love make that possible.