The Muslim Version of Waiting for Godot

 Almost every day, as my friends will wearily acknowledge, I post an update on Vermont's progress in getting the COVID vaccine on Facebook (drawn from the NPR website). I have to admit that I'm rather fixated on the site, which is updated every day around mid-morning. After a perusal I summarize the findings with some commentary and share the link (again). For example, from yesterday:

Today Vermont stands at 57.8% fully vaccinated, 71.2% with one shot, and 91.8% 65+ fully vaccinated - all three figures are first in the nation by a healthy (some pun intended) margin. That's a lot to celebrate, VT, but let's not get complacent. Talk to your neighbors and friends and wary family members and let's keep pushing. Go get your shots!!

Yes, Vermont, our odd little corner of America, is doing the best job of confronting the pandemic, even receiving praise from Dr. Fauci on several occasions. Theoretically we might even reach 85% fully vaccinated by sometime in July (and, as we know, 85% is a huge figure in reaching herd immunity). Sadly, far too much of the country, mainly focused in Trumpsylvania, are not getting their shots which they've somehow turned into a litmus test of their devotion to the cult. While Vermont might reach 85% in six weeks, states like Mississippi or Alabama or Oklahoma might not reach that figure for a year and a half or even two years (meaning, never). So, why do I plague folks with this daily update? Well, I guess it's opportunity, even in a limited fashion, to promote the effort. Unfortunately, even here, the numbers are reaching a plateau, which is troubling. Of course, even if we start to plateau now we're still so much better off than the rest of the country. This last Saturday we hosted a free vaccination clinic at the Islamic Society of Vermont (because that's apparently what I do, although I don't think of myself that way - but my weekend was dominated by Techdren, the Food Shelf, and the mosque). We were open from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday and only two people showed up. Now, it could have been an internal issue (vaccination wariness from our largely immigrant population) or an external issue (some soft Islamophobia as non-Muslims refused to go to a mosque; hopefully that's not it because we're also in the process of opening a free clinic at the ISVT, so I can volunteer more), although the nice woman who ran the clinic says it's just a reflection of the numbers across the state: the big events aren't drawing folks any more and the transition is being made more to local pharmacies and doctor's offices. Still, it's two more people who are vaccinated.

Now, go get your shots!!!!

We still have the Ramadan lanterns up.

The gymnasium turned into a vaccination center. By the end some members of the crew were shooting hoops to pass away the time.