Reasons For COVID-19 Vaccine Grow At Utah County Vaccine Sites

AMERICAN FORK, Utah — Demand for the COVID-19 vaccine has been down, but the reasons to get the shot continue to grow at vaccination sites in Utah County, where people can post why they got the shot on a wall.

“We actually didn’t think it was going to be that big of a hit, but as you can see, it really took off,” said Danielle Chapman, communications specialist at the Utah County Department of Health.

It started as a poster at each of the vaccine sites with the words “I got the COVID-19 Vaccine because” written across the top. Months later, notes cover the wall at the American Fork vaccination site with up to five layers of notes in some areas.

It started as a poster at each of the vaccine sites in the county. It’s turned into a wall of whys. As you can see, the reasons vary… #ksltv pic.twitter.com/7H3TkxGKE4

— Matt Rascon KSL (@MattRasconKSL) May 22, 2021

One reads, “I want to save lives.”

Another, “I want to go to a concert.”

“I want to see all my dance friends soon.”

“My boss said if we get it, we can unmask at work.”

“For my future baby.”

“I believe in God and science.”

“I haven’t seen family in over a year.”

Others were a bit more entertaining.

“I need an origin story for my superhero film.”

“I’m all zoomed out.”

“I don’t know how much longer I can last without Costco samples.”

“So, my wife will still love me. I wanted to stay home.”

“I want to meet my future husband already.”

“There’s a lot of them that say my wife made me,” Chapman said. “There’s one that says I want to pretend that I want to go do things again. That one makes everyone laugh.”

“My mom made me,” said 12-year-old Sean Dilts after receiving his first shot in American Fork on Friday.

It wasn’t an easy thing for him to go the vaccination site. The wait to get the shot was only a few minutes, but it was painful.

Dilts said he has a fear of shots and was worried he wouldn’t be able to handle it well.

“I was thinking, this is going to hurt so bad,” he said.

He was pleasantly surprised with the shot.

“That was much less than I expected. I thought I would cry or something,” he said.

His mom had more of a reason to get one.

“To have the vaccine for us was a huge blessing because it’s keeping us safe and keeping others safe too,” said Liliana Dilts.

“In a year, we have the vaccine and everyone can have the chance to have it,” she said. “I’m from Peru, and in Peru, they don’t have the chance we have.”

As demand for vaccines decrease, Intermountain Healthcare is transitioning away from mass vaccination sites as is the state as a whole. Starting in June, the hospital system will switch to outpatient facilities like clinics and pharmacies.

Hospital officials said recent surveys showed the majority of people who have not been vaccinated would be more likely to get one during a doctor’s visit.

Chapman said their Spanish Fork vaccination site closes next week when their lease expires.