Why This Pediatrician Chose to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine
By Bianka Soria-Olmos, D.O.
When I heard that the COVID-19 vaccine had received authorization for emergency use, I was happy, full of hope and anticipation. Last week, I began seeing many colleagues in other cities posting their comments while receiving the first dose. Then I anxiously waited to know when I should have the opportunity to receive my vaccination. I was able to receive the first dose of the vaccine on Friday. 
I felt so excited about it that I was hardly able to sleep the night before. Interesting enough that it occurred near the holiday season, because I would liken it to how I felt as a kid the night before Christmas.
The excitement came from the feeling of finally taking a step toward reducing the rising COVID-19 cases in our community and also for hope to begin to move toward the end of this pandemic.
As a pediatrician, my work every day includes providing life saving vaccines to infants and children. So I was honored to be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. While I know there is skepticism surrounding the fast development of this vaccine, I hope that the community can see the excitement that the medical community has had for the release of this vaccine. I hope the example being set by doctors, nurses, and many other healthcare workers around the world will convince the public that we would not recommend a therapy which we aren't willing to take ourselves.
We hope our community will keep an open mind and be accepting the COVID-19 vaccine.
I especially hope that the Hispanic community takes the vaccine in an effort to begin to somehow minimize the impact that COVID-19 has had on our community.
And what now?
We must continue to practice social distancing, mask wearing, and good hand hygiene. We must not let our guard down. Until a large number of the population receives the vaccine then we cannot achieve herd immunity which will hopefully be the beginning of the end to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Get to know Bianka Soria-Olmos, D.O.
Dr. Soria-Olmos is a Cook Children's pediatrician in Haslet. She was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, so Cook Children's has 
always had a special place in her heart. She came to know Cook Children's when she was just a kid herself. She went to the medical center a number of times with her active younger brother, who needed care following several mishaps with broken bones. The visits inspired her to decide, "I want to be a Cook Children’s doctor one day."
In pursuit of her dream, Dr. Soria-Olmos attended Texas Christian University (TCU) for a degree in biology and to fulfill the pre-medical school requirements. After graduating from TCU, she chose to stay local and attended medical school at University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth. She completed part of her pediatric clerkship at Cook Children's, learning about pediatric medicine by attending rounds with pediatric hospitalists. It was then she knew she wanted to be a pediatrician.
She began her career with Cook Children's in 2014 as a pediatric hospitalist caring for sick children admitted to the hospital. Today, she works at Cook Children's primary care office in Haslet. Her special interests include child safety, child development and asthma.
