“I took a very heavy cross off my shoulders,” says a vaccinated old man

Posted on 04/03/2021 09:24 AM / Updated 04/03/2021 2:18 PM

The fear of running out of vaccines leads hundreds of 66-year-olds to form long lines this Saturday morning (3/4), at the three drive-thrus stations designed to serve this age group. In the Parque da Cidade, the queue has more than 500 cars. In Águas Claras the scene is repeated and a helicopter even flies over Unieuro to monitor the situation. To meet the demand, the Department of Health extended the opening hours until 5:00 pm.

The first in line at Parque da Cidade is public servant Zacarias Pereira, 66, a resident of PSul, in Ceilândia. He arrived at 1:30 pm on Friday (February 4) to ensure vaccination. He returned home around 10:30 pm, due to curfew. When she learned that there are 18,000 people in this age group and only 1,116 vaccinations in the first phase, she did the math and rushed to get the first dose.

“We are in this situation, with so many deaths in the country, with so much sadness. We believe a lot in medicine. We are very afraid, because we are of legal age and many of us have health problems, which is diabetes, pressure.” discharge and more other diseases.

How does it feel to be first in line? For Zacarías, who arrived today at 5 in the morning and has the password given yesterday by the secretariat, it is as if a very heavy cross had been removed from his shoulders. “This is a time where we are feeling a little lighter. It is a feeling that something has come to help us stay alive in the face of the death from which we have escaped ”, he celebrates.

Few doses

In the Parque da Cidade, the race for the vaccine began at 1 pm on Friday (3/4) and, as the elderly did not move their feet, the Health Department distributed passwords ensuring that they could return home. This Saturday morning, the situation is the same.

Portfolio managers said that even people who have not obtained passwords will be immunized. For this, two lines will be made. One for those who have the password and the other for those who do not have the form. The agents of the Department of Traffic (Detran) will act to guide the elderly and their families on which line to take.

The worsening of the pandemic, with an increase in cases and deaths, in addition to the small amount of doses of the immunizing agent destined for this public, partly explain the sacrifice of families. The Health Department opened vaccination for this age group with only 1,116 doses.

Of the 116,000 immunizers sent to the GDF, the Ministry of Health specified, based on the National Immunization Plan, that the majority would be destined for the group that needs to receive the second dose. At this time, 1,116 units should be applied to the elderly with 66, part of the immunizations will be for the start of the vaccination of the security forces and the rest, for the second dose. As soon as the GDF receives more bottles, more older people in this age group will be vaccinated.

Pain and hope

Bearing the mourning for the loss of friends and the experience of having been hospitalized for 13 days with covid-19, retired Regina Coeli, 66, arrived at Parque da Cidade at 8:30 a.m., when about 500 were already there. vehicles. .

Without the password, he hopes to receive the first dose, although he knows that he must maintain strict health protocols, such as social distance, the use of masks and alcohol gel.
An advocate for immunization, she says she vaccinated her children when they were young. And he celebrates that his daughter and son-in-law, who live in the United States, have already been vaccinated against covid-19.

When asked if he believes in improving the scenario after the population is vaccinated, he considers it unpredictable. “First, because many people think that when they receive the vaccine, they are immune and not completely. But the hope is great, ”he says.