We’re deep in the throes of a global pandemic, Donald Trump is still technically president, and even the snow that elegantly frosted much of the East Coast last night is quickly turning into grayish slush. All of that was enough to put me in a genuinely foul mood this morning—that is, until I saw a video of beloved English actor Ian McKellen receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
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The 81-year-old actor went on to tweet that he would “have no hesitation in recommending [the vaccine] to anyone,” which could be deeply impactful in a moment when many are still expressing hesitancy about getting vaccinated.
McKellen, who was in one of the first groups eligible to receive the vaccine in the U.K., along with health care workers and care home residents, noted in a press release that he was impressed with the ease of the process, saying, “We all have a part to play in the fight against coronavirus and doing our bit and getting vaccinated will save lives.”
I don’t know precisely why watching McKellen get vaccinated has sparked so much joy for me, to be honest. Is it because seeing familiar faces do their part to protect themselves and their communities against COVID-19 gives me hope for a future in which I can safely leave my bedroom with some regularity? Or quite frankly, is it because McKellen is the most lovable man on earth, and I just want him to be happy and safe?
Either way, it turns out that good news is…good, and we’re getting plenty of it, as Prue Leith of Bake Off fame also recently received the vaccine, pronouncing it “painless.” Protect Prue and Ian at all costs!