When you ask an elite runner why this shot matters, you expect a sports-related answer. Instead, Keira D’Amato puts schooling first.

“Running feels selfish to me sometimes,” said Keira, the mother of two. “I work hard, but it’s a luxury. Getting back to school? That’s a necessity.”

After education, track is always on her mind. Keira placed 15th in the Olympic trials just before the pandemic, coming up short for the team. In June, she’ll compete for a spot at the Tokyo Olympics.

Closer to home, “If being one of the 30,000 runners in the Monument Avenue 10k matters, then this shot matters,” Keira said. Everyone in her family and on her track team is looking forward to a return to normal. The COVID vaccine can help, she said.

“So do your part. Be part of the team.”

To get vaccinated, go to vaccinate.virginia.gov. To read more stories like this, visit vcuhealth.org/thisshotmatters.