And a ventilator is what most people are trying to escape when they take a COVID 19 vaccine.
It's an option that tens of thousands of Belizeans have been able to choose since the arrival of the vaccine in March, but one, that up until now hasn't been available to teens and tweens.
But that all changed this weekend when the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine, the only vaccine approved for those between the ages of 12-17years of age, became available in Belize.
Here's Cherisse Halsall's update on the ongoing Pfizer rollout.
This morning when we stopped by the SJC gym we met a few families who weren't wasting any time coming out to get their teenagers the jab on one of the first days it was available.
Maria Villanueva, Grandmother
"Two grandsons that I take care of."
Cherisse Halsall:
"So, why did you decide that this vaccine was right for your grandson."
Maria Villanueva, Grandmother
"Well, I am fully vaccinated my husband is fully vaccinated. I prayed about it and I have peace to get them that layer of protecting They really need face-to-face learning on. So, yes I have no problem with them being vaccinated."
And it's that protection for some of the youngest in society that these parents are actively seeking.
Hyacinth Cuellar, Mom
"I did all my personal research on the Pfizer vaccine, I checked with relatives who live in the states that their children also took the Pfizer vaccine and all seems to be well so my personal decision along with her father was to let her take the vaccine and as quick as possible."
But it wasn't so easy for this mom, Friend of Channel 7 Christy Almeida who you might remember from the story Matteo goes to school was at SJC gym today to get the Pfizer vaccine for her son.
Cherisse Halsall:
"What helped you to make the informed choice for your child to get the vaccine?"
Christy Almaieda
"My son is special needs, which means he's more susceptible to getting sick and having problems, he has communication problems, he can't even tell me when he's feeling bad so it was really important for me make sure he's as protected as possible."
Cherisse Halsall:
"What's the bribe for the vaccine?"
Christy Almaieda
"Donuts because the ice Cream stores aren't open ye so we're going to go find the nearest ice cream shop right now and we're headed there to buy out all the donuts."
But while it's the parents who are making the ultimate decision, some young people are eager to make the choice for themselves. That was certainly the case with Nellie Mendoza and her son David.
Nellie Mendoza
"Well, right now is the time we want to get into normality and I really hope David will be healthy enough with the vaccine and he will be well protected to start again his normal life, school and etc. etc, no."
David Mendoza
"Well, obviously at some point things are going to have to go back to normal, and dealing with school and extracurricular activities obviously you need to get a vaccine just for that assurance that if anything happens you have a better chance."
Cherisse Halsall:
"What was getting the vaccine like for you?"
David Mendoza
"Nothing special it wasn't any sort of challenge. I'm just happy that I got it and ready to get back into the mix of things."
The hope is that, that's the sentiment across the board in the multiple facilities and districts where Pfizer became available today.
Melissa Musa, Deputy Regional Manager, Ministry of Health
"Countrywide pfizer as well for this site so far we've already seen 200 kids because we were here from 8:00 this morning and we'll be here until three this afternoon."
Cherisse Halsall:
"You've said to me earlier you're doing four schools, on the schedule so we have SJCJC, we have SJC high school, Edward P. Yorke, we have ACC and Sadie Vernon high school today."
Melissa Musa, Deputy Regional Manager, Ministry of Health
"We have had on Saturday we did start with the sixth form and other parents did bring in kids from many different schools so it's looking really positive for us. We are happy with the persons coming out and the numbers coming out and we continue to encourage that parent's bring their children in, ensure that the consent has been filled in, bring them with an I.D. let them have a good breakfast, lunch and be well hydrated and please come into any of our sites. We are not turning away anyone the age group 12-17 at this point, whether you're out of school we're asking you to please come in and take advantage of this opportunity that we have."
And when we were done with SJC we headed to Sadie Vernon high school on the other side of town where the vaccine rollout had also begun. We spoke to Vice-Principal Abigail Hoare about the challenges confronting this school's Pfizer rollout.
Abigail Hoare, Vice Principal, Sadie Vernon High
"Every school institution caters to different types of children and so success for one institution has a different level of success for another institution. COVID is affecting everyone, the Southside probably would be argued to be the bigger population of the city and so all we can do is try our best to educate our parents and our children, which we have been doing. In regards to their responsiveness to receiving the jab or not it's everybody has to use their own conviction their own judgment, we have parents who don't, many of them don't have an up to date device so even downloading the consent form has been difficult for them which is why we went ahead and photocopied. Many of them unlike many Northside families have a lot of financial challenges and money affects everything, so if they're having financial challenges then it's affecting their ability to download necessary documents it's affecting their mobility somewhat to catch bus and come here, one parent told me simply having twelve dollars was difficult for her to get, in order to be coming here, whenever we needed her to come so you know one measuring stick doesn't fit everyone, we are being progressive, we are being successful."
At the time of our story the number of vaccines given at the SJC auditorium was above 200 doses while the doses at Swift Hall were under 100.
