The introduction of the Covid-19 vaccine to Virginia has caused many different reactions from a diverse group of people. People’s emotions range from merriment to resentment to anger. Vaccines have always inflicted problems based on what people believe in and how it will effect their lifestyle. This vaccine is no different, except for the fact that many are pressured to get it, to protect others in their work environment and to keep their jobs.

Virginia’s governor, Ralph Northam has issued three phases to implement the vaccine. They all gradually include the different members of society, starting with healthcare workers and the military, and shifting to the elderly and common population. While many people who have been able to assess the vaccine in depth, like the military for example, are not hesitant to receive the vaccine, others are unsure of what it could bring. The military has always been a step ahead of the process with the vaccine. They have the advantage and disadvantage of knowing what outlooks are promising, and which will fail. The military all consists of hundreds of different jobs that all connect with one thing in common, protecting the people of America.

Healthcare workers have a chance to see benefits and losses of certain medical evaluations before the general public. More specifically, in this case, military healthcare workers. They’re able to see how people are reacting to something, medically, mentally, and physically. This can give them the helpful advantage to decipher what medical tools and vaccines are worth sharing with the public. In this global pandemic, this fact hasn’t changed. They’re still able to see everything that’s going on in the world for our safety and protection. Those who’re worried about the vaccine can seek reassurance from healthcare workers and receive their thoughts and opinions. Captain Kevin Brown works as a Naval Fleet Surgeon in Virginia at a Naval base. When asked about the vaccine and the pandemic, he stated that, “The pandemic has changed how things operate and function, and the vaccine provides hope that we can navigate to the “new normal”, and be able to deploy safely.”

The Naval forces in Virginia, are one of the many members of the military fighting for the vaccine. Over this past year, members of the healthcare workers in the Navy, in Virginia have been sent all over the United States, in order to help others with the Coronavirus, and to assure the creation of the vaccine is making progress. Captain Kevin Brown was sent to New Orleans amid the middle of the pandemic to help an area that was struggling. At times where families in the pandemic need to feel safe and protected, the military has played a big role in that process. Healthcare workers in Virginia have provided immense care and protection, and they have made a big difference when it came to helping the nation improve, they are well recognized, as they should be. The military has different units fighting for different things. They’ve been fighting for the country as a whole, military healthcare workers have been fighting for health and the vaccine, and other units some may take into consideration when thinking about the military. Such as a Public Affairs Officer, who works based off of interactions with people. They’ve had to sacrifice so much while fighting for their country at the same time.

As we know, this pandemic has changed lives, so has this vaccine. The vaccine in Virginia has brought many hardships and difficulties to different jobs and people. Everyone has experienced different changes with the Coronavirus and the vaccine has brought hope.

The military has been greatly affected by the vaccine and virus in different ways. Captain Self-Kyler, a Public Affairs Officer for the Naval Fleet Forces in Norfolk, Virginia, said that, “Serving in the Navy has caused us to reflect on our processes and to ensure the safety of others.” Captain Self-Kyler has worked in the Navy for years, publishing stories about the Naval programs and keeping Virginia updated on the activities within the Navy. When I asked her what she missed about her job, she stated that, “I miss community outreach, fleet weeks, larger audiences, communicating with others on a personal level, and participating in things.” Her job is to interact with people and communicate with others. The Coronavirus hasn’t allowed her to do that, so she’s hopeful about the vaccine and the new changes it could bring. Not only has the Navy helped others during this time, they’ve also been living in a different world then the rest of Virginia and America. They have their own rules that they have to abide by. According to both Captain Brown and Captain Self-Kyler, they Navy in Virginia is extremely restricted on what they’re allowed to do. While others are allowed to go out with a mask and eat at a restaurant or go shopping. Captain Brown has not been able to go out with his family or attend any family events in order to protect himself and his coworkers, to put the health of others first. They’ve had to make sacrifices for others in order to help the national health crisis improve. The vaccine has brought hope to these workers and has encouraged the process of distributing the vaccine in Virginia.

Many people don’t realize the different types of sacrifices the military has to make daily, and how that changes with each new passing event or global circumstance. The vaccine in Virginia has given people confidence and they’re ready to move forward. The Naval base in Norfolk has shown hope and compassion for the vaccine and they, like the rest of us, are ready to move on to the “new normal” here in Virginia.