Semblance of normalcy

We are seeing an upsurge in the number of persons who want to be vaccinated. People are currently lining up for vaccinations, despite the fact that others who do not have advanced registration are still hoping to be accommodated once they reach at the vaccination stations. This is especially true given the fact that some local government units are still looking for additional sites to meet the growing number of people who are interested. But how far will the government be able to match this surge in public interest? When will we be able to have such a large supply of vaccines to reach a safe point where we can return to some form of normalcy?

In earlier columns, I hoped that people would grasp the necessity of vaccinations, not just for their own safety but also for the welfare of their loved ones and the community at large. It's been over a year since our sense of normalcy was ripped away from us.

People all throughout the world are starting to ask new questions. Are we in any danger? Is it safe for us to travel, go to work, or go to school? Is it appropriate for us to take my children to the park? What are the possibilities companies will be able to recover?

There have been differences all throughout the world concerning the return to something akin to pre-COVID normalcy. Some believe it will happen in the next twelve months, while others believe it will take longer than three years, and still others do not believe it will happen at all.

But one thing is certain: the process will be far more gradual, and many of us will be completely unaware of it. In general, more people will get immunized. We'll begin obtaining more information, particularly from people who have been vaccinated. As hospitalizations decline and limitations are lifted, businesses will begin to reopen, possibly asking for vaccine passports at first. Summer will bring warmer weather, which will be ideal for outdoor festivities. With more people immunized and fewer individuals ending up in hospitals, even indoor gatherings will soon seem safe. We'll find ourselves doing what we were doing two years ago all of a sudden.

We've been wishing for the opportunity to go out and bask in the warmth of our friends' and relatives' embraces. We've been hoping to be able to communicate with them, feel and see their brows and lips move. We hope to hear the distinct voice and nuances of our good friends who have been away from us. We were sorely missing them.

Though it will take time, we must cling on to the idea that such normalcy may one day be within our grasp. And if we simply had a complete understanding of time and circumstance, we may do this in a very short period of time. Science has given us with a solution. We might almost claim that a brighter tomorrow awaits us as a result of the discovery of certain vaccines. It is now in the power of humanity to make the process of making us safe in the coming months as smooth as possible.