My COVID-19 Vaccine Adventure

 After getting stuck in the US during the early months of the pandemic, I took a humanitarian flight back to Burundi in August 2020 (and ended up stuck in quarantine in Ethiopia for 2 weeks en route). At the end of December 2020, I began to see pictures of all my doctor friends getting vaccinated. It was so hard to feel like I was missing out on that protection of a vaccine - particularly working as a doctor in a country without ICUs or ventilators. But with borders and airport closed for many months, Burundi seemed to have avoided the brunt of the first and second waves of Covid. We weren't seeing many patients in the hospital with serious respiratory disease and national Covid numbers were pretty low. In early 2021, however, as numbers began to creep up in Burundi and vaccination became more available in other countries, we began to wonder when it would be possible for us to be vaccinated. Then a few months ago, vaccines began to be available in other African countries. This was when we really started pursuing any possible leads to get vaccinated. We hit quite a few dead ends in this search which became more and more concerning as the delta variant of Covid reached Burundi in July and numbers really began climbing nationwide. Multiple staff members of our hospital became ill and our Covid isolation unit was full. The Minister of Health announced Burundi would accept vaccines, but evidently they are still preparing the infrastructure and systems to roll out vaccination here. Finally, after months of waiting, I heard of the possibility of getting vaccinated in a nearby country and decided to give it a try (not knowing if the whole trip would be in vain or not). 

Here's the story of my journey. Hopefully it will result in gratitude for the easy accessibility of vaccines in many countries and in prayers for the least accessed countries to gain both vaccines and the systems needed to implement widespread vaccination. 

Step #1: Drive 3 hours each way to Bujumbura two days before flight for the official travel Covid test (which can only be done in Buja). Add two extra hours when a truck overturns and blocks the dirt road that is already the detour to the city.

 I honestly did not believe that the road would get unblocked in time for my Covid test and thought my whole journey was derailed just 10 minutes from Bujumbura. I mean how does a semi-truck get righted and moved on a windy, mountainous, pothole-filled dirt road in Burundi? In the end, I don't know how it got unblocked, but my team was praying for me even when I was faithless and languishing in the heat and surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. God answered those prayers, and I made it to the national testing site with time to spare. 

Traffic jam when everyone tried to take the road at the same time after it was unblocked

Step #2: Get the first of four Covid tests - before departure and on arrival in each country. Pray for negative results x4. Again, remarkably, my test was negative and I was cleared for travel. 

Step #3: Drive down to Bujumbura again 2 days later for flight. Pray another truck doesn't overturn! 

Step #4: Arrive at airport and show Covid test result and travel documents four times at various checkpoints. Go through security twice. Check in luggage. Try to convince airline agent that carry-on bag is not too heavy. 

Step #5: Get on my first flight in 13 months! I was so relieved just to be on the plane and going somewhere! 

Step #6: Quarantine hotel for one night while waiting for arrival test results. This not being allowed to leave my hotel room brought back some flashbacks from my travels in 2020, but thankfully it was short-lived! I was free the next morning to visit with my friends. 

Step #7: Enjoy a sweet visit with special friends. 

Step #8: Register for the vaccine and explain why it has taken so long to get my first dose (because no vaccines yet available in Burundi). 

Step #9: Get vaccinated! I really didn't believe it was happening till the shot went into my arm. I've never been more thankful for a sore arm in my life! God is so good to answer the prayers of many - and to guide the vaccine developers and COVAX donors and the systems and supply chains all along the way. 

Pfizer #1 for Pfister! 🎉

Step #10: Repeat the Covid tests and travel and hotel stay on return to Burundi. Thank those who covered the pediatrics service and the team leadership job for me in my absence. 

One last delicious meal with these sweet and encouraging friends

Step #11: Make plans to hopefully repeat the entire process at least 21 days later! Keep praying for vaccines for those who don't have the privilege or finances to travel to another country for vaccination. 

https://covid19.who.int