When the coronavirus vaccines first started being distributed we saw huge lines as thousands of people sought out protection from COVID-19. That was only a few months ago.
Now that a majority of eligible people in our region are inoculated, the lines are smaller but the need is still there. Watch the video on this page to see a walk-through of the event and why one woman came out to get her shot.
Tuesday's Get Marty Vaccine Party with UPMC at Oakmont Bakery didn't have massive lines, but it did have people showing up who have been hesitant to get the vaccine. Some were concerned about side effects, others put it off because of fear from bad information circulating on social media.
That's where we teamed up with UPMC's experts to get the word out about the true side effects, and there can be some, and also to dispel fake news like the rumor that the shots will make children unable to have babies.
There was a sweet enticement for people coming out to the event thanks to treat boxes filled with goodies from Oakmont Bakery, Sarris Candies, and Turner Iced Tea. While that tickled the sweet tooth for some folks, the biggest incentive was getting protection from the virus. It was also nice to see people face to face. This was our first live broadcast in more than a year because of the pandemic.
At the end of the day, we were able to get more than 50 people vaccinated and we were able to get the word out about vaccine safety and access. Thanks for helping us make this a success and thanks again to our friends at UPMC, Oakmont Bakery, Sarris Candies, and the Bowser Family Foundation for making this possible.
If you would like to sign up to get your vaccine or someone in your family:
UPMC: vaccine.upmc.com
CDC: Vaccines.gov