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.