Why Vaccine Selfies Are Really Good
I never realized how many of my friends and acquaintances are medical professionals until my social media feeds began to be highlighted with selfies of vaccines. People flashing their reminder cards or waving their bandages, which is good: every vaccine selfie is a small public health message, and you are doing your part to make vaccinations a normal part of life.
Because COVID vaccines are so new, many people wait and watch as those around them receive vaccines. If you’ve heard misinformation about vaccines being harmful, it becomes harder to believe as you see people in your life getting them safely. And when you know which of your friends has decided to get the vaccine, you also know who you can talk to if you have concerns or want to know what it’s like.
This is why something as simple as taking a selfie with a vaccine can help beat a pandemic. By posting your vaccinations on social media, you can help others make informed choices. The more people get vaccinated, the less likely the virus is to spread, and we are all heading towards a return to something of a normalcy.
So, here’s how to take the best vaccine selfie:
Plan your shot
You’ll send a great message whether you’re taking a selfie before, during, or after a shot, but think about the details when scheduling a meeting. Be sure to wear suitable clothing if you want to demonstrate the bandage or the shot itself.
While you can take selfies anywhere, be sure to look around the vaccination site – some even have selfie stations set up for this purpose.
Respect others
The person giving you the vaccine may not want to be in the photo, so don’t count on being able to take a video in the middle of a vaccination. Sure, a lot of celebrities and politicians have their film crew followed them to the clinic, but that doesn’t mean that healthcare workers want to be photographed or filmed while at work – so either save your selfie time for later or ask , is it possible. the provider doesn’t mind if you take a picture while they’re in it.
And be sure to make sure that there are no other people in the frame who did not agree to be there. These are common manners, but sometimes we forget that others can accidentally photobomb us. Before you take a photo, think about who is in the frame.
Hide any personal information
Posing with a vaccination reminder card is a great alternative to showing off a needle or patch on your arm, but keep in mind that the reminder card usually has your full name and date of birth on it. Block this information if you want to share this picture.
Write a signature
After taking a selfie with the vaccine, share it with pride! Add a caption explaining what you are doing and provide any information you like, how you feel about it, or how you made your decision. If you want to add an anecdote about how today you got a microchip, give very clear to say that this is a joke. Messages that are misunderstood can be captured and passed on as misinformation, so try not to ignite this fire.
You can also use these tips for getting flu shots or getting your child vaccinated. Often people hear little about vaccines other than in the context of misinformation or complaints, but the truth is that most parents vaccinate their children, and about 40% of adults get the flu shot during a typical year. Just seeing people you trust get their pictures means a lot.