Photo Credit: The Scientist
About a year ago, nobody ever thought about getting a vaccine due to a worldwide pandemic. We all went from going to work, to working at home or, even worse, losing our jobs. Students stopped attending school in person and went completely remote.
When the vaccines were released through different states, citizens had mixed emotions about what would be injected into one’s body. The quantity that was being distributed was very minimal. At first, it was only to the essential workers, and as time passed by, more people were allowed to get one. Not only did people become confused about what would be expected, but also deciding which vaccine would be the most beneficial one: Moderna, Pfizer, or J&J.
In the beginning, while many were getting vaccinated, others who live with pre-existing conditions could not get the shot as quickly as others. I remember the first time I tried making an appointment and was told that I would have to wait. A couple of months later, I had the opportunity of getting the Moderna vaccine; I made an appointment to get my first dose. I had my first dose on the 9th of March 2021. As I anticipated the appointment, I was very stressed out, thinking about all of the outcomes or how it would be while being on-site. That morning I was extremely nervous, as it was a new experience.
Once I arrived at the location, everything was straightforward. Signs indicated where to go, stations that could guide each person where to go, and staff to guide you to the correct area. When the nurse began the procedure, it was rapid; it was like any other injection. After receiving the dose, I waited fifteen minutes to make sure there wasn’t any discomfort. A couple of hours later, I didn’t have any symptoms besides a tender sore arm, which only lasted a couple of days.
Three weeks passed by, and on April 7th, I returned to obtain my second booster shot of the Moderna dose. I felt a little at ease when I first arrived since I already had an idea of what I would expect. The procedure was the same as the first time. The only difference was, I was asked a couple of questions. The nurse asked if there were any symptoms from the first dose; she asked if any visits were made to the Emergency Room, etc. As I sat there and answered her questions, she filled out paperwork and prepped the booster shot.
Once I received the shot, I took my things and moved over to the waiting area. I waited for fifteen minutes. As the hours passed, I began to feel tired, with a mild headache. Once the evening came, I began to feel even worse, I had a low fever, the headaches were continuous, and because of the fever, my body was shaking. This feeling was something I had never experienced. These symptoms lasted two days. Much rest was recommended. I hope everyone is capable of getting their shot to move past this horrible virus.
