I had my first Pfizer vaccine today. Ohio has done a decent job of getting vaccines to those who want them. Once they announced 60 and older could get the vaccine, my husband searched a few days on and off and finally got an appointment. He had to drive an hour to get it because he didnt want to wait an extra week for an appointment. He went to rite aid.
Once they announced i was eligible (57] I was able to get my dose thru CVS. Their website was the easiest to navigate.
You have to live in Ohio to get it here. I know people who are getting appointments on line in SC because they dont require you to be a resident and then driving to areas where appointments are available.
If anyone has statistical data on vaccine side affects (not anecdotal please), that would be helpful.
So far, both Pfizer and Moderna are similar in their side affects of headache, fever and other flu symptoms. Also according to Newsweek whose report I linked below, out of 65 million vaccinated, scientists told them that serious side effects were rare.
Newsweek and an other media outlet looked at CDC death data of about 90 million people within 120 days of getting vaccinated, but there was no information on whether these people died because of the vaccine or for other reasons.
Using a CDC database -- and with about 90 million people vaccinated so far, Newsweek found 970 people died at some time within 120 days of receiving the vaccine, with no explanation of what caused them to die. That's a death rate of .01 percent or 1/100th of a percent. 51.7% were Moderna and 49.7% were Pfizer.
I don't know how that compares to a study of the death rate of any 90 million people in the U.S. who have been allowed to be vaccinated in these early stages. Remember that generally the people who were first in line to get vaccinated are the elderly, people in long term care or home care, i.e., the most physically vulnerable, people in prisons.
Laura,
I believe you have a medical background? I just received my second shot on Friday, 3/12 and am very relieved and thankful...BUT I got hit very hard. It was like having a severe flu with constant vomiting for 2-1/2 days. By the end of Day # 3 I began to feel better. Good news? I managed to lose 7 lbs. in 3 days so that's a definite plus ...:) I am 66 so the "weakened immunity theory for seniors" apparently does not apply to me...
Question: Many have had no reaction at all to either the Covid or Shingles vaccine whereas for me, Covid was bad and Shingles was equivalent to a Biogenic weapon in the severity of response. I realize that everyone has a different immune system and why some seniors do not react so strongly... but scientifically, WHY is it that some have such a severe reaction to certain vaccines and others do not despite the fact that the vaccines supposedly work equally well in everyone across the board? Do certain people just have a "hyperreactive immune system"? My twin sister had a similar reaction to mine so likely genes play some role. I'd be very curious to understand the reasons for the disparity of people's responses scientifically.... and I deeply hope that everyone who is trying to get their Covid shots on this board gets them ASAP -- side effects are certainly a small price to pay to save your life...
Not a doc or nurse, but you said it yourself - everyone is different.
As for your reaction to the COVID vax, is there any chance you had it last year and recovered? Apparently folks who had it are reacting more strongly, even if they didn't know they had it.
Of course genetics plays a role.
The thinking on why the reaction to the second shot is stronger is that the first one primes the system, your immune system reacts and says "New invader. Duly noted." Then after the second shot your immune systems reacts and says "WTF? Thought we got rid of this weeks ago, guess that didn't work so all hands on deck!"
Bottom line is that a strong reaction means that it worked. Had it gone beyond 3 days you would have had to seek medical treatment to be safe, but looks like it resolved so congrats.
"It looks like 90% reduction in asymptomatic transmission. So that's really good," said Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
The above is from the article you posted. Great news indeed. Not only could getting a vaccination save YOUR life, you will be able to save lives by not transmitting the virus to anyone else. Transmission had been in question.
2nd dose is in the arm! Woot woot!
Thank you so much. I never had Covid before so that explanation is out. But I appreciate your input. Stay safe yourself!
FYI- If you live in NY and are trying or know someone who is trying to get an appointment through the NY website and it always shows no appointments at the sites click on it anyways. There are appointments available.
I had a lot of hope yesterday, but today the volunteer group sent me an appointment for my covid shot...104 miles away! It said to say 100 miles if you wanted it sooner, but when I corresponded with the group before they procured the appointment, I asked for something within an hours drive away, more like 20 miles away or so, and not three hours away. You had to agree to wherever they sent you but I obviously had to cancel it. Now I feel like the rug has been snatched out from under me. I doubt they will find me a new one.
I got another survey from my work and maybe something will happen, but I feel utterly hopeless now. Very sad, and discouraged,
@ghandigirl I “liked” this for a show of support, not for anything else.
with the government sending to pharmacies now as well, are you on the list with Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens (I hear Kroger is offering now too) - my brother had told me originally to get on every list possible (I didn’t - I knew my school was scheduling us) and that’s advice I’ve passed on to friends and family.
I know there will be some who will refuse to be vaccinated. Most of them who do not wish to be vaccinated will likely perish. Even after COVID is controlled, what will happen to the anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers?
I had my first shot Saturday morning. No problems at all except the same kind of mild injection site pain you'd have from the flu shot. Today, about two hours ago, I started having sharp shooting pain that was in the elbow area, shooting down to the wrist, and bad body chills from the pain. Came one like a flash, one minute I was fine, then the pain started. Now it's in the entire arm from the shoulder down, so I'm under blankets trying not to freak out. ☹️
Thanks.
The volunteer group said they will try again for something closer.
I'm on about 10 lists. It will happen.
My mood disorders run away with me sometimes and today was one of those days but I seem to have at least two very viable options, them and the work list.
Hooray- I was invited to register and have a shot in a little over a week. Don't know which I'm getting- don't care. Just grateful to be alive :)
I neglected this thread, since it is largely focused on US vaccination. However, has anyone seen anything about the difference in vaccines? AstraZeneca has been in the news, negatively, since January here. First because they couldn't deliver. Then breach of contract. Then people dying and others blaming the vaccine. Any insight there?
@ghandigirl I've been thinking about you - I'm glad you're finally set up! Don't pull a "Dannyboy" and get a tetanus shot in-between doses :P
The only think I've seen reported here is that three countries discontinued use because of the alleged link between the vaccine and blood clots, but then I saw another article that said they weren't sure there was a connectiom at all. I've seen some discusstion that Moderna's side effects were more pronounced than Pfizer's, but it depends on who you ask. I have friends who had Moderna and had no second dose effects.
My arm was much better the next morning but I noticed a large bruise at the injection site.
Hope you are feeling better, Jeanne.
Half of Europe stopped using AstraZ due to deaths/blood cloths. It has caused a lot of anxiety here, also because AstraZ has been in the news negatively because of their contract with Europe.
Anyway, it will probably be June before I get my shot, but really do not want to change AtraZ because I have problems with blood circulation...
Kudos to all who got their shots and are a bit more safe! ❤️
@moonbeam There is a new report from researchers that the blood clotting problem that occured in a small number of AZ vax recipients was the result of a rare auto-immune condition. https://www.dw.com/en/astrazeneca-german-team-discovers-thrombosis-trigger/a-56925550 The report says there is a treatment for the clotting, although it cannot be given as a preventative. It would be good if there was a way to screen people for the auto-immune condition, though that does not seem to be the case, at least not yet.
Personally if that was the first vax I could get, I'd take the small risk.
No Astra Zeneca for me anyway, because they dropped the age requirement in my state this week and both my husband and I were able to get "Pfizered". We were already on a wait list with the county. So when the age requirement was changed, the county emailed and texted us to let us know we could make appointments. We had absolutely no problem with making the appointments or getting the jabs. Everything was well-organized. Spouse got his at a large church and I got mine in the VIP event hall at the top of a football stadium (bonus: amazing view that the common folk normally don't get to see!). Neither of us have had any reaction besides a little soreness at the vaxx site and some mild fatigue.