My friend died of COVID today. One of only two other furries I know in my tiny, tiny town, he died this morning, one day short of two weeks after his brother died of it. I had been helping his family moving hay bales in my friend’s and his brother’s absence, and his mom has been keeping me up to date on his progress.

They were all fine a month ago. They started having symptoms. A day later, they were both in the hospital, and a day after that, his brother was comatose. My friend was having trouble breathing and was on supplemental oxygen, but he seemed to be in relatively good spirits up until the day his brother died. That day, my friend went on a ventilator and was sedated. His blood oxygen concentration has been slowly dropping ever since. As of two days ago, it was in the 70s. Yesterday, the 50s. His heart stopped twice last night, and I guess the third time did him in. He was 30; his brother was 21.

For those who have getting a shot “on their to-do list”, just get the fucking shot. My friend was waiting until the state rolled them out to his company. He literally procrastinated himself to death. It’s too late to put on your seat belt after you’ve been hit; it only works if you put it on before the accident.

For those who say, “we don’t know the ramifications 10 years from now”, just get the fucking shot. My friend won’t be alive in 10 years to know whether the shot would have had any adverse effects or not, nor will he get to experience the next 10 years leading up to that point.

For those who say, “it won’t happen to me”, just get the fucking shot. My friend was overweight, yes, but not much more so than I am. He was otherwise healthy and more physically active than I am. And now, he’s dead.

For those who say, “you can’t tell me what to do”, fuck you. Get the fucking shot. You pay your taxes, go to work for “the man”, get bossed around by your spouse and/or kids and/or pets, and wear a seat belt. People tell you what to do all the time. Get the fucking shot. If not for yourself, do it for your family, who might miss you when you’re gone and will definitely have to deal with your shit when you’re dead. Or, do it for your friends, who should miss you. Or, for your coworkers, who will have to pick up the slack when you’re gone. Or, for your pets; who’s gonna take care of them when you’re gone? Or, for the at-risk populations who cannot get a shot but would if they could and who could die if you give it to them. Hell, do it for the “I get a gold star because I did something selfless” reason, if you have to; that’s why I did it. Whatever reason you choose, just get the fucking shot.

For that very, very small portion of the population who cannot get the shot, you’re off the hook. Stay safe, social distance, wear a mask, wash your hands, all that stuff.

For everybody else:

Get the fucking shot.

Seriously, go schedule an appointment right now.