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SALT LAKE CITY – While all adults will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in just a few weeks, experts say there’s a reason people with underlying health conditions take priority. A kidney transplant from Utah explains why he is so grateful that he was able to get the vaccine.
Greg Boss of Holladay is considered high risk. He has been married to his sweetheart for 25 years. Right after they returned from their honeymoon, Boss started to feel bad.
He says his life changed in 2001 when he had a kidney transplant at just 34 years old.
“April 12. I remember the day. It snowed, ”he said. “My wife’s little brother donated one of his kidneys to me and we will be celebrating our 20th birthday next month.”
Kidney disease is rampant in her family. “We’re still fighting this fight and trying to make it last as long as possible,” Boss said.
Boss is a father of three and enjoyed great health until December 2019, when he was in hospital for six weeks after undergoing heart surgery. “I had a quadruple bypass and the valve was fixed,” he said.
He felt grateful to be alive. “(I) got out of the hospital and sort of went straight into the pandemic,” he said.
The entire Boss family has taken great precautions to protect him from COVID-19.
“They don’t want to be the ones to bring Dad home with something and that’s why they had to sacrifice a lot to keep me safe,” Boss said. “It was a challenge and we had to come together as a family and as a community to really help each other.”
Boss says he was so excited to receive the vaccine, qualifying with his underlying medical conditions. He said it was a surreal moment. “Now all of a sudden we have a vaccine a year later and I have a much better chance of fighting it,” he said.
Dr Tamara Sheffield of Intermountain Healthcare, medical director of community health and prevention, said the state has prioritized people like Boss for a reason. “But there are also other health conditions that put individuals at a high risk of death, which is why we have moved on to those who are most at risk and continue to progress towards others,” a- she explained.
Sheffield says the state is following the research and recommendations provided by the CDC. “As we get more and more supply, the easier it is for us to match these recommendations,” she said, who now includes people with diabetes, kidney disease and a BMI of 30. or more.
As the vaccine soon becomes more widely available, she urges all Utahns to get vaccinated.
“We need these vaccines to protect us, but when you protect yourself, you also protect others,” Sheffield said. “I’ll tell you that even healthy and strong people have had serious complications. So this is important for you personally, but it is also for that person in your neighborhood, or for your friend or your friend’s mother who may be at risk. “
Sheffield says the COVID-19 vaccine is a sign of hope for changes in the community. She adds that the greatest gift of immunization is peace of mind. “You don’t have to worry so much about provoking yourself or spreading disease to those you love,” she says.
The boss feels lucky to be in good health for his wife and three children. “I can’t live in fear, right? I just have to do my best every day and try to make a difference in someone else’s life,” he said. “There’s a reason I’m here and I’m doing everything I can to make the most of it,” he said.
While research is still ongoing, Sheffield said experts predict that around 70% to 90% of Utahns will need to be vaccinated in order to slow the transmission of COVID-19.
Sheffield encourages those who have had trouble getting an immunization appointment to be patient. “Don’t worry, we are going to be getting a lot more vaccines week after week and you will be able to easily access them in a fairly short period of time. Just be patient and persevere,” she says.
Intermountain Healthcare is a leading partner with the State in the distribution of vaccines. To sign up for a date, Utahns can also visit coronavirus.utah.gov.
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