(Action shot of my 6 year old getting vaxxed. Go antibodies, Go!!)
I decided at the last minute to change our episode plans so we could do an informative, non-judgmental episode about kids and the COVID vaccine. But it’s not just the nuts and bolts about safety (although we do tackle that) ... or answering Double Shifter questions (which we do also.) As always, I’m most interested in moms. So this episode is about how the vaccine is coming at a moment when parents are traumatized by the last nearly two years and can’t really see things getting better. We’re just beyond exhausted about risk assessment and suffering from massive decision fatigue. That’s all factoring into how we’re thinking about vaccinating. Some of us see it as a way out, and others aren’t quite sure. And another meaty element we’re tackling is how all of this is exacerbated by existing social pressures, especially on moms, to do “the right thing” or not “risk” choosing something that we could feel makes us feel responsible if something bad happens. Angela is still hard at work on her book and there’s no way I could tackle this all on my own, so to my delight, I got one of my besties on the show this week. Dr. Liz Baltaro is a board certified family physician, a medical director and a mom of three -- including twin boys (isn’t that an awesome biographical coincidence!!) She’s spent most of the pandemic testing, treating and advising both adult and children COVID patients in an outpatient setting. Liz and I text and send each other Marco Polo video messages basically every day. We live on the same street and go on family vacations together. I would trust her with my own kids’ lives, and she knows her shit. So she’s joining us to unpack the science, the anxiety, the motherhood pressure and so many of your lingering questions on today’s episode.
Listen to "'Good Moms' and the COVID Vaccine," out today.
Our producer Rachel describes this episode as "the warm hug every mom needs right now." Get your hug. You deserve it.
Til Soon, Katherine | 
