Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an enormous toll on the world. As of November 2021, approximately 5 million  people have died of COVID worldwide, 752,000 in the US alone (World Health Organization). The virus knows no boundaries - it has killed young and old, liberals and conservatives, rich and poor, black and white. The dangers of COVID have changed life as we know it across the globe - workplaces have closed, millions of people have shifted to remote work, schools have shifted to online learning, masks are required indoors in all public places, people have been discouraged from meeting in groups, and people have been taught to socially distance themselves from others. When the COVID vaccine came out in early 2021 many sighed with great relief - hope was around the corner and life could finally get back to normal. 

 

However, for some groups, the promise of the vaccine did not apply. They were either unable to receive the vaccine for health reasons or were afraid to receive the vaccine due to misinformation spreading about its safety and efficacy, even though multiple credible sources, such as the Center for Disease Control, attested that the vaccine was safe and highly effective. For those unvaccinated groups, fear of contracting COVID persisted even after many Americans started to return to a more normal routine. Pregnant women, families with children under 12, and those with allergies or other health conditions that prevented them from receiving the vaccine suffered in silence as their fears of contracting the virus percolated. It is their stories that we will share to understand the hidden cost of COVID on these unvaccinated groups.