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Georges Budagu Makoko, 47, father of two, is looking forward to cookouts and barbecues but has mixed feelings.
Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Georges Budagu Makoko wants to be able to fire up the grill and get together with his friends and family at backyard cookouts or picnics this summer, but he’s not completely comfortable with the idea yet.
Though the Portland resident is vaccinated, he has two daughters, 8 and 12, who aren’t. And he knows that not all of the people that he might want to invite are vaccinated.
“Last year was horrible, we stayed home because we could save people’s lives by staying home. Personally, I’m really looking forward to any opportunity to get together with people again at cookouts or outside, but I have mixed feelings about it,” said Makoko, 47, who manages group homes for Serenity Residential Care in South Portland and is publisher of the Amjambo Africa newspaper. “Some friends I know have been vaccinated. Other people who aren’t, I might kind of stay away from.”