Today I got a glimpse of how it feels to be a citizen of the world.
I have just returned from the vaccination centre with a booster jab. Just as in previous occasions, I am so grateful for the free vaccination given to us, all so systematically delivered. It took me all of 15 minutes from the time I arrived at the centre to the time I received the jab, all done with much care and concern by the service providers. With this booster jab, I know I will be less likely to succumb to the relentless virus.
The journey that the vaccination dose had taken to travel thousands of miles to be now coursing through my veins this minute is truly a remarkable one.
When covid struck, humanity was horrified at the vastness of destruction it was causing – countries after countries, communities after communities. While medical professionals treated those who needed attention, scientists exchanged data and cooperated to look for cures and vaccinations. Many vaccinations were trial tested across the world but only a handful were finally approved for their efficacy with minimal side effects.
A little over a year after the health pandemic struck, while the virus was (still is) mutating away, vaccinations arrived at our shores offering protection to us here too in Malaysia. Many parties are involved along the supply chain to make this happen so expeditiously.
For sure, there are many aspects of the management of this pandemic that have gone wrong and are still wrong - almost no country seem to have been spared from man's folly or greed.
But, this health pandemic has also forced humanity to cooperate and care for each other, not least because we realise that we are only as strong as the weakest of us. Whatever the driving force that made the supply chain moved so swiftly, I felt cared for as a member of the human race, as a citizen of the world. It is clear that when humanity has collective will, there is nothing we cannot overcome together.