Deviator

Vaccine distribution

2020
Nurse

"Finally." The chief of surgery opens one of the boxes with the newly administered vaccine against Covid19. He holds up one of the vials and smiles. "Now we actually have a fighting chance against this pandemic."

He is right. We have been trying to manage a contagious virus without any reel remedies to do so. This vaccine is a godsend. Hopefully, we don't have to watch people die anymore without a chance to save them. Maybe now things can go back to normal.

"Let's get the vaccine program started." He hands me one of the boxes. "Go set it up. We are going to distribute this quickly and efficiently."

"Yes sir." I take the box and go to the area where we are setting up the vaccine distribution. We have turned a big hall into a waiting area complete with a reception where your social security card is scanned. Behind the reception the waiting area is divided into five sections, all of which is perfectly lined up with chairs in a two square meters radius outside five individual rooms. These five rooms contain a computer and printer, a chair for the patient and of course the vaccines and syringes. This is where we will be giving the shot. Then the patients will go through the room, come out on the other side, where there also will be a waiting area with chairs. Here the patients will wait for 10 minutes to see if they have any side effects before going home.

We are rather confident that this is a great way of doing this. And we will be able to get a lot of people through here very swiftly. And efficient.

I unpack the box and line up the vaccines in the refrigerator. Ready to be used. Then my curiosity gets the best of me. I am interested in the components in the vaccine. As I read the list of content, chills go through my body. I have seen this before. I know this composition. I helped create this composition...

Accidentally, I drop the vial and it shatters on the floor. My hands tremble as I realize this is Dr Hasting's drug. The experimental drug that had horrendous side effects.

Another nurse heard the glass shattered against the floor and now comes running in.

"Nurse Bane. Are you alright?" She looks at my trembling hands and pale face before looking down at the broken glass on the floor. "Is something wrong?"

"I... I..." I swallow once and try finding the words. But I can't. I don't know what I can say and to whom. "I need to see the chief. Excuse me." I push past her as I run to the Chiefs office. He knows the story behind the medical trial. He knows the truth. Surely, he has to be the one that can help.

I burst into his office, which clearly catches him be surprised.

"What...?" he stands up instantly. "What do you think you are doing?"

"I'm sorry sir. But the vaccine... we can't trust it."

"I beg your pardon?"

"It's the drug from Dr Hastings medical trial. It's dangerous."

"Don't be silly nurse Bane. This vaccine has been tested greatly before distributing. No one in their right mind would use a vaccine without testing it."

"But Chief. Dr Hastings isn't in his right mind."

"And he isn't capable of making a billion dozes of the drug on his own either. It is impossible for this vaccine to be Dr Hastings doing. Don't worry, I'm sure everything is fine."

"Sir..." I step closer. "It is the same components."

"And how can you be sure? You didn't work on the drug in the end. You don't know what he changed back then. Maybe some of the components are the same, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the same drug. You of all people should understand how many factors that goes into the process." He walks around the desk and leans against it while crossing his arms. "And how come you suddenly believe that you are brighter than all the other medical staff that has helped develop this vaccine?"

I'm speechless. I get how this looks. Me bursting in here and accusing everyone that made the vaccine of being incompetent. But I know I'm right... right? I mean, I can't have forgotten the components or...

I sigh. I can see his point. This vaccine has gone through a lot of testing. Wouldn't it be strange if I - a simple nurse - was the one to catch a problem with it, when no one else notice? It doesn't seem possible. I must be mistaken. The chief is right. I didn't work on the drug in the end. I can't say precisely what was in it. I guess I'm just overworked and tired.

"I'm sorry sir. You are right. I think I overreacted..."

"That is quite alright. We are all stretched so thin at the moment. Maybe you need a break. Go home. Relax a bit. Come back in the morning. I'll bet you'll see everything more clearly then."

"Yes Sir. Thank you, sir."

I walk out the office while feeling stupid and embarrassed. Of course, the vaccine is safe. They wouldn't use it if it wasn't. But just to be sure, I grab the bottle with the immune system boosting pills that I have been taking ever since the pandemic started. I glance over my shoulder before I put the bottle in my bag and then take the vial I have left from the medical trial before Dr Hasting "perfected" it. Maybe I can use this to keep my kids safe. Enhance their immune system. Grow a resistance to the drug he created. Just in case I am right about the vaccine.

I may be paranoid, but I will stop at nothing to protect my kids.

The next day I show up at work bright and early. Sleeping helped slightly. I'm like 90 percent sure I was just overreacting yesterday, but there's still the last 10 percent that is messing with my brain. So, I volunteer to work the waiting area where people will have to sit for 10 minutes to see if they get any side effects. That way I can either calm my nerves and prove myself wrong, or I'll be the one to see the first signs of the side effects that I unfortunately have seen up close before.

Everything works like clockwork. People respect the guidelines and restrictions; most people even take the shot without any complications. A few gets anxiety attacks during the procedure, but we have well trained staff to help them. For hours I keep surveilling the waiting area. Every ten minutes new people show up. Most don't even react to the shots. Only a handful of people get mild side effects like nausea or dizziness.

Three hours later I can breathe easier. I have been proven wrong. I have never been so grateful to be wrong before.