YELLOW GRASS – The entire Mickey Quigley family of Yellow Grass have received their double-shots of the COVID-19 vaccinations in an effort to protect each other, and also those they come in contact with in the community.
The family members weren’t able to all get the shots at the same time, said Mickey, but they made a determined effort to ensure the parents and their children all received the vaccine.
“We decided to get our whole family vaccinated for a couple different reasons,” explained Mickey. “Myself and my youngest daughter Hayley have diabetes, and she also is asthmatic, so anything we can do to help lessen the effects of COVID if we were to get it would help.”
He was the first one to be vaccinated in April, as he took advantage of the opportunity afforded to those who work in emergency services. He is a first responder for the Yellow Grass EMS, and he works as a driver test examiner with SGI in Weyburn.
As the age groups gradually opened up, wife Kathy got her shot, and then their two oldest children, son Aiden, 17, and daughter Tanzie, 14, were vaccinated as soon as they were able, and most recently Hayley was able to be vaccinated as well.
None of the family members had any adverse effects from the shots, other than a sore arm and some tiredness the next day.
Mickey noted he also has access to free rapid tests as well through the EMS service, and he’s made sure everyone is tested on a regular basis “to stay on top of it, to make sure none of us have any symptoms.”
Through his work as a first responder, along with family and friends he’s been in contact with, Mickey said he has seen people both with and without vaccines who have contracted COVID.
“I would suggest getting it. I’ve seen that it can lessen the effects of COVID. It’s not a guarantee that you won’t get it, but you won’t get as sick. It’s for your own protection. I know for myself, it’s worth getting the shot,” said Mickey, pointing to his daughter’s compromised health system as a primary reason, in addition to those he meets as a first responder.
With the EMS, he responds to any emergency calls in Yellow Grass or the RM of Scott, helping the patient until the ambulance is able to come from Weyburn.
In his work as a driver examiner also, he notes he is in close proximity to many different people every day, so he views getting the vaccine as a “kind of safety net” for those he meets as well as for his family.
“It’s peace of mind,” he added.
“I’ve seen friends and family who’ve had the shot and had COVID. It’s not a 100-per-cent thing that it’s going to protect you from getting it, but it can help lessen the effects if you do get it,” said Mickey.
He urged everyone to consider getting the shot, and to keep taking all the precautions, such as wearing a mask indoors, hand-washing and social distancing when it’s possible.
