After a long 2020, it appears the cavalry might be coming: promising new vaccines against the virus that causes COVID-19. While some Americans are eager to get it, others aren't rolling up their sleeves for the shot anytime soon.

Here's what our Mommy M.D.s — doctors who are also mothers — are doing for their own families.

"I'll get what Dr. Anthony Fauci gets," says Brooke A. Jackson, M.D., a mom of twin girls and a son, a dermatologist, author of the forthcoming book "Skincare for Runners" and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology Associates in Durham, North Carolina. "And so will my kids when it is approved for their age group."

"Initially I was planning to hold out on getting the vaccine," says Amy Baxter, M.D., a mom of three, the CEO of BuzzyHelps.com, and National Institutes of Health researcher based in Atlanta. "Once the FDA has approved it, YES! I will get it as soon as it's my turn. I will also have my kids vaccinated, but my kids are older. I think I'd wait to vaccinate kids under 12 with no medical conditions until we know more."

"My husband and I may not have a choice regarding the vaccine, as we are both physicians," says Marra S. Francis, M.D., a mom of six children and an OB-GYN in Helotes, Texas. "Before I vaccinate any of my kids, I will wait to see what happens with vaccine research in the pediatric population and be watching VAERS for any reports in younger adults/kids." VAERS is the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, which is run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. She added: "I am worried as this type of mRNA technology has previously only been tested in animals and this is our first real trial in humans. Most vaccines have a four- to five- year Phase 3 study where long-term side effects can be observed. The COVID-19 vaccine will have only 60 days from the second shot before the FDA has approved it, so long-term data will be unknown."

"I was on the fence about the vaccine initially, mostly because I was basing whether or not to get it on fear and lack of knowledge," says Nilong Vyas, M.D., a mom of two, a board-certified pediatrician and the founder of Sleepless in NOLA sleep consulting in New Orleans, Louisiana. "As I started to research the subject and delve deeper into the science, I realized quickly how incredibly lucky we are to have this opportunity. I want to protect myself and my family from this illness. It can be hard to filter through all the information and make an educated decision, but it is worth taking the time to do so for the betterment of your family and community."

Mommy MD Guide's Recommended Product: Buzzy for Shots

"This vaccine will probably take two doses for most people, and like the Shingles vaccine, WHOA — it's a doozy," says Amy Baxter, M.D., the CEO of BuzzyHelps.com. "Many people will want to take it on a Friday because it can cause one to two days of flu-like symptoms in 10% of people. Even the shot itself hurts more than most, certainly more than a flu shot, so we expect more vasovagal (fainting) symptoms when people get it. Buzzy not only decreases pain, but in one pilot study, it kept everyone using it from feeling lightheaded (while 1/10 who didn't use it felt faint). We've had a HUGE uptick in people with needle fear or fainting tendencies buying Buzzy this fall, both for flu shots and in anticipation of getting the COVID vaccine."

You can buy Buzzy for Shots at www.BuzzyHelps.com.

Jennifer Bright is a mom of four sons, co-founder and CEO of family- and veteran- owned custom publisher Momosa Publishing, co-founder of the Mommy MD Guides team of 150+ mommy M.D.s, and co-author of "The Mommy MD Guide to the Toddler Years." She lives in Hellertown, Pennsylvania. To find out more about Jennifer Bright and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: HVesna at Pixabay