I moved out of our family home for 3 months last year when COVID hit. I rented Airbnbs and lived out of my minivan. I showered in the hospital locker room and ate the meals Kaiser Permanente provided to staff.  I did my laundry in laundromats. It was hard but I couldn’t risk exposing my family. We were scared. We didn’t know what COVID was or what it was going to do. When the vaccinations came out, I asked a pathologist, 'Yes or no?' He knew what I was talking about and he said, 'Yes!' So, I got the shot. The worst thing for me last year was missing my family. Now I feel like we have a chance to stop the spread.

In the beginning, I was totally against getting the vaccine, but I was hearing how dangerous the virus was and I was concerned about my disabled parents and my children. I talked with my daughter, who is a nurse, and she helped me understand why it’s so important to be vaccinated. When I received the first dose, the nurse was really nice but I was nervous. She told me to relax and take a breath. I want to be safe and healthy for myself and my parents. My advice to others is do your research so you can protect your family and yourself.

I had my reservations about getting the vaccine. It was the fear of the unknown, what the side effects would be and the long-term implications. I come from a multi-generational family and protecting my parents as well as my nieces and nephews is very concerning for me. My parents and my sister all work for Kaiser Permanente. Together as a family we discussed the pros and cons of the vaccine and decided for our safety that we would get the vaccine. I don’t regret it. I had mild side effects following the second dose for 24 hours, but that’s it. I’m glad my family and I are protected.

Initially, I was hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but once I educated myself about mRNA vaccines and realized that the science was not new, I felt better. Trust the science. We’ve lost so many people to this awful disease, and vaccinations can help end it sooner. As a physician, I feel I have a duty to stop the pandemic by getting vaccinated and doing everything I can to stay healthy to care for others. I haven’t been able to see my mother and other older family members, and I really miss them. My mother is scheduled to have a vaccine, and hopefully, we will be able to see each other soon. We can all do our part to end the pandemic.

When I was asked if I wanted the COVID-19 vaccine, I didn’t hesitate. I got the shot because I needed to protect my family. I live with my mother and my grandmother, who is 96. Since the pandemic hit, I haven’t hugged or kissed my grandmother. Even though all of us will soon be vaccinated, we’re still going to wear our masks. It’s a little bit of insurance that’s going to protect us in the long run.

My primary role is patient-­facing. After George Floyd’s murder, I felt a greater responsibility for communicating with our staff. Our diversity and inclusion team did a 3-part series with Black employees about our experiences with discrimination. We did another one on privilege and allyship. I spoke about privilege. I thought, ‘Let's throw a monkey wrench into this discussion. Let’s take a different angle when we talk about privilege — let’s go beyond the concept of race.’ The greatest privilege is to be well-loved, to love and to add love in spaces where love has been absent.