This is a very interesting article in our state of CT Patch discussing points about the current vaccines and new ones to come:
https://patch.com/connecticut/across-ct/3-coronavirus-vaccines-now-available-ct-how-do-they-differ
Hi @deetoo. Thanks for asking. So far so good. We went to the medical complex at U of Louisville. It was super organized. We were in and out (it was drive thru) in less than 40 minutes. Compared to other locations here in town that was fast! I had a little soreness in my arm and fatigue. I had a little stiffness this morning but Advil took care of that. My BFF is a type one diabetic, we went together, she had a rough night but was feeling better this morning. We were given our appointment for our second shot yesterday, which I am very thankful for! Ours was Pfizer.
My vaccine saga continues. First, I want to acknowledge that I know many people who haven't had a single issue with their vaccine schedule and that my case is the exception rather than the rule.
A quick recap: My school district scheduled our vaccinations and I received my first Pfizer dose with zero issues. But, an unanticipated trip to the ER included a tetanus shot which, despite repeatedly asking if it would hinder my second shot (I was told no) did in fact delay my second shot. I was in the chair and about to get the poke when the nurse asked the questions on the form again and told me I couldn't get my second dose because of the tetanus shot. She said I would be put on a wait list, gave me a new vaccination card that said my first shot was the day of my second shot and sent me on my way.
My older brother works on the statewide task force that oversees vaccinations and today while working a clinic he checked the system they're using. I was not, in fact, on the waiting list. In fact, they had recorded that I received my second dose on March 6th - the day they sent me out without it.
Because of his position, he did two things - he got me on the wait list for my health department, and proceeded to schedule an appointment for a second Pfizer dose on March 21st (5 weeks after dose 1) all the way on the other side of the state, the only place he could get me in.
I'm grateful he got me in, and grateful to know the saga will end next Sunday if not sooner, but I'm angry at the ER for giving me false information and the nurse at the clinic who assured me I was on the wait list. The health department does not answer their phones (or voicemail messages) as I learned after calling them multiple times last week to make sure I was in the system. I don't know how people who don't have a brother on the statewide vaccine task force could navigate a similar issue when they won't let you into the building, won't answer the phones, and won't return messages. I also have to lie and say I lost my vaccination card since they took my original and gave me a new one with an incorrect date. This is so frustrating. My county is the ONLY deep red county on the Michigan COVID map right now, and my kids school is out of control spread right now. (Middle school just shut down, HS is close. Two neighboring districts have gone remote again)
After unable to get a vaccination appointment from the nearest pharmacies at our homes, my parents could get an appointment with the family doctor. The ones from the pharmacies only limit to people 65 and over.
Hi All,
Hubby and I completed both Pfizer vaccines. My dad got his too. My daughter and her BF are scheduled to get either Pfizer or J&J this coming week. I want to share some really important info that the medical professionals shared with us at length (we were volunteering at a vaccine superstation so we had some time to chat here and there).
- DO NOT take any ibuprofen for pain or fever for 48 hours post vaccine. Tylenol is ok if it's really bad, but try to resist. The reason for this is that the new vaccines target your immune system very specifically, and you want as much inflammatory reaction as possible. That way, you know the shot is working.
- It takes two weeks post second vax to be considered "fully vaccinated".
- ALL of the approved vaccines have reduced risk of mortality to near zero, and have greatly reduced risk of serious disease, so get whichever one you can asap.
- I observed about 5,000 people get first and second shots, NO ONE had a severe adverse reaction of any kind. If they tell you to hang out for 15-30 minutes, do it anyway to be safe.
- The second shot WILL knock you off your butt from about 8 to 24 hours after the shot, if you can, plan ahead and try to take a day off from life to relax, watch junk tv, and let your immune system get to work.
- Because these shots are mRNA based, and because there are new variants, we may all need a booster next fall or winter. The good news is this new tech is easy to tweak quickly.
- AS SOON AS YOU GET YOUR SHOT(S) - like immediately - take a pic of the card or paperwork with your phone that shows date, lot, etc.
- Send the pic to your own email, and archive it there and/or download it.
- Send the pic to your PCP.
- Make several copies. Shrink it down if you need to, to make it more portable.
- Laminate them (we went to Kinko's but clear contact paper works too).
- Keep one with your passport or other travel documents or birth certificate.
- Keep one in your wallet. Good to have it on you in case of emergency, and also to prove you are fully vaccinated. (Showed mine at my first massage appointment in 14 months today, just for the masseuse's peace of mind.)
Hope everyone is well, I'm starting to socialize with other friends who are also fully vaccinated and looking forward to resuming some semi-local travel soon, with my husband, daughter and her bf.
BTW - here in Southern CA vaccine distribution is very messed up. It's nearly impossible to find an appointment unless you keep a tab open on your laptop or desktop browser and keep refreshing it every 10 minutes. And in my county the priorities remain restrictive and f*ed up.
They tell elderly and others who don't have internet access to call 211, but I tried doing that to schedule our second doses only to be told 211 can't help.
@laura-f, thanks for taking the time to share all of that information. Really valuable stuff. I didn't know about waiting at least two days before taking the anti-inflammatories. Love the suggestion of taking pics of your paperwork.
I do know some fully vaccinated people who have had different reactions to the second dose: many had the knocked-out symptoms you described, anywhere from 12-48 hours; some experienced very mild, flu-like symptoms; and some literally felt nothing after the second dose, other than a sore arm. Interestingly the people I know who had no reactions were all seniors. I do agree it's best to be prepared. I had my first dose two weeks ago. Felt fine for two days, then got hit with bad fatigue and chills (no fever) for about two days.
I'm sorry about the problems you experienced with scheduling your second dose. How were you finally able to accomplish that? It's crazy that second dose scheduling wasn't automatically built into the system after you've had the first shot. Who is in charge of the vaccine distribution in Southern California?
I also want to thank you for all the information you imparted to us. I also didn't know about ibuprofen. Sounds like both S. California and Michigan ( @Dannyboy ) are having problems getting their act together. I know hit has been difficult for MA as well.
It is a shame since we all knew we would have vaccines at around this time months ago. There should have been better prep on the states part even if our inept former occupier in chief failed to lead on a national level.
In AZ, our Gov. Ducey actually made an apology about how difficult it has been to schedule an appointment.