The nurse releases my shoulder and drops the needle in a sharps bin, slaps on a smiley bandaid. "And we're done!" Her cheeryness seems genuine but a little strained. There was a long line. "You're all boosted, and here's your vaccine card."

Waiting out the 15 minutes in observation, I look at the card.

Moderna COVID-19/22 vaccine booster
3/21/2025              lot #5829126

  🇺🇸 NOT A VACCINE PASSPORT 🇺🇸

(Tear at perforated line.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Here's your shot at
$$ ONE HUNDRED MILLION $$

       Scratch
       and win

I bite my nails, when I'm not wearing this mask. So I scrub inneffectively at the grainy silver box. Not like the woman across from me, three kids in tow, who's zipping through her sheaf of scratchers.

The message on mine becomes clear: 1 month free Amazon Prime

Ah well.