Teachers get COVID-19 booster to protect community

PHOTO: As of Oct. 29, children ages 5-11 are eligible to get a smaller dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

By Stella Maze,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

According to the World Health Organization, a third shot of the COVID-19 vaccine may increase immunity against the virus. This ‘booster’ dose was recently made available in the United States, allowing some Davis High teachers to receive the shot. 

English teacher Spencer Elliott said that he got his shot as soon as he could and did not have any trouble scheduling it. 

“My wife and I were following the news and guidelines regarding booster shots for a while,” Elliott said. 

He reported mild chills, fatigue and fever after receiving the booster. 

“I’m (also) scared of needles, so I have emotional discomfort when I get any kind of shot,” Elliott said. 

Ultimately, he chose to get the booster to promote community safety. This is a sentiment shared by many Davis High teachers, including English teacher Christine Baker. 

Baker also got her shot as soon as she found out she could. 

She experienced side effects similar to Elliott’s, which were relatively mild and included a slight fever, chills and achiness. Baker said that these effects only stayed with her for a few hours before she fell asleep and woke up feeling normal the next morning. 

Dr. Shanaz Khambatta said that vaccine side effects are always a possibility no matter the vaccine but vary depending on the person. 

“Anyone who is medical(ly) at high risk for COVID should be getting it,” Khambatta said.

“The booster shot is something (a lot of teachers) look at as an opportunity to get us as a society closer to normalcy,” Baker said. “I think it just goes back to trying to protect your people.” 

In the long run, Baker sees getting the COVID-19 booster as her job as a citizen to keep herself and those around her safe.

Baker says she does not only mean to protect her own loved ones but thinks it is important to get the vaccine for the safety of everyone she comes in contact with. 

“Like the barista I’m going to see on Saturday,” Baker said. “It’s my job (…) as a person in society to protect those people.”