Vaccines at NCH offer ‘a blessing’ for some while others struggle to get a slot

Reporter: Rachel Cox-Rosen Writer: Melissa Montoya
Published: Updated:
Andrea Cooper was one of the lucky ones who got a vaccine to protect against COVID-19 at NCH on Friday. (CREDIT: WINK News)

Andrea Cooper hasn’t seen her son and his family in a year.

The Naples resident has a lot of underlying health issues so she’s worked hard to not expose herself to COVID-19.

On Friday, she came one step closer to regaining some sense of normalcy and the possibility of hugging her family once more after getting vaccinated at NCH.

“It’s a blessing,” Cooper said.

Not having time with her family has been hard, she said. Her grandchildren have asked when they will see her again.

“Not only is (it) emotionally hard but sometimes it physically hurts,” Cooper said. “The hardest part is when Addison, the youngest one, said ‘will I ever see you again Nana.’ That was hard … That was devastating.'”

While Cooper inches closer to normal, others like Michael Wascom await their turn.

“It’s been very frustrating,” Wascom said.

He’s been trying to get an appointment for his mother for two weeks but has been unlucky.

“When the website you’re using to make the appointment doesn’t work, it’s a problem,” he said.

Cooper said she knows she is lucky. She is waiting to be the “fun nana” again.

“I need a hug,” she said. “I need the kissies. I need to roll around on the ground with the grandgirls.”

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