Mom, stepdad, and daughter drive incentive for vaccination
By Shalisa Wall, Homeless Services care manager
I’m a new colleague at Pittsburgh Mercy Family Health Center (PMFHC), working with Homeless Services. I started my new job on April 12 and Pittsburgh Mercy President and CEO Tony Beltran asked me to share my vaccination story. Here are all my reasons for getting the COVID-19 vaccine:
- I live in a multi-generational family and have an elderly mom and stepdad. Due to my mom’s failing health and my stepdad needing a hip replacement, over the past year I’ve increased my duties as their caregiver. I received the vaccine, because I want to protect my parents and not expose them to the virus since at this time neither are vaccinated and they’re undecided if they want to get vaccinated.
- I live with my 14-year-old daughter who at this time is ineligible to receive the vaccine due to her age. However, if she can get the Pfizer vaccine once it’s available to her, I’ll definitely get her vaccinated. But until then, by me being vaccinated, I’m protecting her from the virus.
- I believe it’s my civic duty to protect others in my workplace, community, and especially my family, so anything I can do to be a “Health Ambassador,” I’m going to do to ensure the health and safety of others. I want to be healthy and have a long life, so that I can continue GOD’s work of serving others.
Shalisa Wall and daughter