Former California Governor — and over-the-top 80s and 90s action movie star — Arnold Schwarzenegger got the first of two injections that make up the coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday.
Like several other public figures, the actor-turned-politician decided to get vaccinated on camera, NBC reports, so that he could use the opportunity to encourage anyone who might be hesitant about getting the COVID-19 vaccine shot.
“Today was a good day,” tweeted Schwarzenegger, himself now a senior citizen at age 73. “I have never been happier to wait in a line.”
After getting his shot, Schwarzenegger looked into the camera and repeated one of the most recognizable lines from the “Terminator” franchise: “Come with me if you want to live.”
It’s a cutesy nod to his time as a Hollywood A-lister, but also it’s not far from the truth. While the coronavirus vaccine rollout has been deeply flawed so far, getting inoculated against COVID-19 will, for many, be a matter of life and death.
So far, the coronavirus has killed more than 406,000 people in the United States, and nearly 4,400 died on Wednesday alone. While the vaccine may not be a silver bullet against infections, it is the best tool currently at our disposal when it comes to protecting individuals and getting life as close to “back to normal” as we possibly can in the near future.