PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – Bill Griffin has waited more than a year for this moment: newly vaccinated, he hugged his 3-year-old granddaughter for the first time since the pandemic began.
“She came running. I picked it up and gave her a hug. It was incredible, ”said the 70-year-old man after the meeting last weekend.
Spring has come with sun and warmer weather, and many older adults who have been vaccinated, such as Griffin, are emerging from hibernation imposed by COVID-19.
From shopping in person or going to the gym for bigger milestones, like visiting the family, people who were previously at greatest risk with COVID-19 are starting to move on to put their lives on track. Over 47% of Americans aged 65 and over are fully vaccinated.
Visiting grandchildren is a priority for many older adults. In Arizona, Gailen Krug has not yet had his first grandson, who was born a month after the pandemic in Minneapolis. Now fully vaccinated, Krug makes plans to travel for his granddaughter’s first birthday in April.
“I can’t wait,” said Krug, whose only interactions with the girl were through Zoom and FaceTime. “It is very strange not to have it in my life yet.”
The excitement she feels, however, is tempered with sadness. Her daughter-in-law’s mother, with whom she was eager to share her grandmother’s duties, died of COVID-19 just hours after the baby was born. She hired him in a nursing home.
Isolated by the pandemic, the elderly were hit hard by the loneliness caused by restrictions designed to keep people safe. Many of them attended summer meetings, canceled vacation plans and missed family reunions in November and December.
In states with older populations, such as Maine, Arizona and Florida, health officials were concerned about the emotional and physical toll of loneliness, representing an additional health problem in addition to the virus.
But that is changing, and more older people are reappearing in public after being the first group to be vaccinated.
Those who are fully vaccinated are ready to leave Dodge without worrying whether they are risking themselves in the midst of a pandemic that claimed more than 540,000 lives in the United States.
“Now there is an extra level of confidence. I’m feeling good about moving forward, ”said Ken Hughes, a 79-year-old Florida resident who is flying with his wife for an annual delayed pandemic trip to Arizona in April.
Many older adults are eager to board a jet to travel. Others are eager for simpler things, like eating at a restaurant, going to the movies or playing bingo.
Sally Adams, 74, was among several older people who attended “parking bingo” in Glendale, Arizona. She felt safe because she had been vaccinated and because she was in her car at the first bingo event in over a year.
As soon as she has enough time to reach the peak of immunity, she plans to indulge in small things, like eating out. Both she and her husband, who is also vaccinated, only delivered food for the trip. Now, they feel it is okay to eat indoors – as long as it is not crowded.
“We will probably come in and occupy the table farthest away from other people, just to ensure security,” she said.
In fact, many older adults are taking a cautious approach, especially when the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refused to facilitate travel recommendations.
Frequent traveler Cindy Charest was so excited about the prospect of flying away for the first time in more than a year that she posted an airplane emoji with a picture of her being vaccinated on social media.
But she is taking a wait and see action after the CDC has recommended against non-essential air travel, for the time being.
“I think I was prematurely excited about it,” said Charest, 65, of Westbrook, Maine. But she is ready to jump when the time comes. She is watching to change the orientation.
Others are also cautious.
“We’re still in the middle of it,” said Claudette Greene, 68, of Portland, Maine. “We have made a lot of progress, but we are not done with that yet.”
Kathy Bubar said she and her husband are fully vaccinated, but are in no hurry to force things. The 73-year-old Portland resident is planning to wait until autumn before planning any major trips. She hopes to go on a safari in December.
“My goal in all of this is not to be the last person to die from COVID. I am willing to be patient and take as long as it takes, ”she said.
The Griffins were also cautious before meeting with their granddaughter.
Bill Griffin of Waterboro did not dare to have close contact with family members before being vaccinated because he has lung disease, heart disease, kidney disease and hypertension, all factors that pushed him into a high-risk category for COVID 19
“Everyone wants to live in the moment, but the moment could have been very deadly. We heard the scientists, ”he said.
Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami and Terry Tang in Phoenix contributed to this report.
Calling all HuffPost superfans!
Sign up as a member to become a founding member and help shape the next chapter of HuffPost