The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2021 - 15

were able to get appointments

to the lot of an industrial

of disabled adults qualify as

starting in February.

warehouse, and even to the

unpaid caregivers. (I have

intimate examining room of

an adult daughter on the

vaccine will bring about some

an orthopedic surgeon. After

autism spectrum.) However,

changes, but this will take

years of field experience

getting an appointment was a

time. For now, we'll continue

honing this craft, I've come

complete nightmare!

taking the same precautions

to recognize the element of

I believe receiving the

while working in person as
we have been for over a year
now. We'll also continue
working in compliance with
health care authorities in
each state and following the
requirements of each facility.
It's essential that our
professional organizations
defend our well-being and
safety at work. This advocacy
can equip us with the right
tools to, in turn, advocate for
ourselves and our colleagues.
I'm personally grateful for
ATA's efforts in this area
and proud to belong to an
organization that makes
advocacy a priority.
To me, getting the vaccine
means hope. Hope that other
interpreters will be able to
receive it. Hope that other
minorities will be able to
receive it. Hope that we will
all be safer at work, especially
patients. It means the hope

appointment, ATA had not

that is, the flexibility to

I'm a freelance French,

CDC. I tried calling a major

choose where the job will take

German, and Italian

me. As the pandemic set in,

into English translator,

the ability to offer my clients

interpreter, editor, and

an in-person option became

language coach focusing on

more unfeasible and more

legal, financial, medical, and

dangerous for myself and

genealogy matters. Most of

those around me.

my interpreting is focused

variety as a unique privilege
of owning a small business;

On February 22, I received
my second dose of the Pfizer
vaccine as part of California's

in hospitals interpreting

Phase 1A, which included
medical and other on-site
interpreters. Being vaccinated
is an assurance that I'll be able
to better protect both myself
and those I serve wherever
and whenever my work is
needed. As remote events
remain and we inch closer to
herd immunity, vaccination
along with masks are crucial
precautions that afford me
greater flexibility to support
the clients and limited-

later, we'll be able to hug our

English-proficient population

family and friends tightly and

that depend on my services.

mere memory.

The advocacy efforts by
ATA and others are key
toward recognizing and
safeguarding the vital work
of professional interpreters
like me across so many
sectors. I encourage those
of my colleagues who
have the desire to get the

Katerina Borghi
Irvine, California

vaccine to do so. I'm deeply
thankful to ATA, and to
all those associations and

yet written the letter to the
health care system in my
area, since I often interpret
at their hospitals. However,
I was told that only people
in their system would get
vaccinated and that I would
have to go through my service
provider. When I called my

on medical, but also legal
matters. I spend a lot of time

that, sooner rather than

turn the current crisis into a

When I first tried to get an

Nina Gafni
McLean, Virginia

service provider, I was told
they had not been given any
information about medical

for doctors, nurses, and

interpreters getting the

patients. I also interpret in

vaccine and that I should

school settings for meetings

call my doctor. I then called

with teachers, students, and
parents. Some of what I do can
be done virtually, but other
things must be done in person.
To me, getting the vaccine
is one small step on the road
to normalcy. Vaccines save

my doctor and was told the
practice did intend to offer the
vaccine to its patients once it
was authorized to do so.
Once Fairfax County set
up its vaccine appointments,
I immediately signed up.

lives. They protect me, my

However, when I talked to

family, and everyone else I

a scheduler, I was informed

come into contact with.
I was eager to get the

that, as a medical interpreter,

vaccine because it meant I

I didn't need to get the vaccine

could accept jobs I would

since I " only did virtual

not have felt safe accepting

appointments. " I quickly

before. Back in December, I

enlightened the scheduler that

had to turn down a request to

I had recently interpreted for

interpret for people getting

two appointments at major

tested for COVID because I

area hospitals. I explained

feared I might get infected.

that I was in a room with

I don't like turning down

doctors, nurses, and patients

requests to help people, but

during those appointments.

I had to think about what

However, it wasn't until I

might happen to my family if

also mentioned I had recently

I got COVID. Now, I feel I can

been asked to interpret for

be part of the solution, not

people getting tested for

the problem.

COVID that the scheduler

My practice as a freelance

stakeholders who advocated

federal and state court

for our vaccine eligibility. Our

because, as a medical

Spanish interpreter in the

profession merits protection

interpreter, I'm considered

I applaud ATA's efforts. I

private civil market can

in the crucial work that we do

a health care worker. I also

think the letter to the CDC is a

take me anywhere from a

so that we may continue to do

later qualified in Virginia,

major stride. However, there's

swanky high-rise law office

that work safely.

where I live, because parents

still a lot of work to be done.

www.ata-chronicle.online

agreed I definitely qualified to

I qualified for the vaccine

get the vaccine.

American Translators Association

15
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The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2021

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