Vax to Normal featuring Jonah Shaw
Jonah Shaw, a sophomore religion major from DeSoto, Texas, knew he wanted the COVID-19 vaccine when it was available to protect himself and his community from the novel coronavirus.
"It was interesting, I knew in the very beginning I was all for getting the vaccine," Shaw said. "A lot of people in my family were very skeptical about it and weren't sure if it was a good idea. This led to my own doubts, but I decided that I should figure out for myself."
Like many others in the early days of the FDA's emergency use authorization of COVID-19 vaccines, Shaw turned to reputable sources and the advice of medical authorities to discern what decision was best for him.
"I remember a week over the summer where I did all this personal research about COVID-19, looking into what it does and what it is based on the information we had," Shaw said. "I did the same with vaccines in order to better understand how they work and what they do. After this, I was confident I wanted to get the vaccine when it was time and hopefully convince my family that it was OK, as well. Now, I am fully vaccinated, and so is everyone else in my family."
Shaw is a member of the Faith in Vaccines Ambassador (FIVA) Gold Team, a group of students from a variety of backgrounds and experiences who made the decision to get the COVID-19 vaccine. They now advocate for their peers and the Baylor campus community to do the same.
For Shaw and many of his peers, the shift to remote learning and intermittent isolation were experiences that he has no interest repeating.
"My school year took a lot of creativity. In order to find peace and friends and other necessities, it required a lot of out-of-the-ordinary things," Shaw said. "Building connections and relationships looked very different than what I was used to, and so did finding rest from all the work I had to do for school."
A fully vaccinated campus community will help mitigate the risks of COVID-19 and allow students to enjoy all the traditions and events that embody the Baylor experience.
COVID-19 vaccines are widely available and free of charge. Baylor students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible. COVID vaccines are currently available for students and employees at the Baylor Health Center. Appointments can be made online or via phone at (254) 710-1010.
Fully vaccinated students, faculty and staff who complete the brief vaccination confirmation form will be exempt from weekly testing and will not be required to enter quarantine protocol in the event of confirmed COVID-19 exposure.
Shaw and many others found a measure of peace and solace within their church family throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. He considered the available information and trusted the data offered by medical experts. Shaw saw getting vaccinated as an act of love for his community and a way to "honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10).