Got Vaccinated?

 

The COVID vaccine.  Today’s hot ticket.  It feels like trying to score concert tickets to a popular band.  Instead of purchasing concert tickets, we are desperately searching online to find an available vaccine appointment.  In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy put into place a vaccine registration website to notify residents when they can get vaccinated aligned with the CDC’S phased vaccine schedule.  Going into this portal, I entered my health information and then I was quickly registered.  Now the waiting game.

Based on my health condition and my medications, I am immunocompromised, and I take immunosuppressants.  About a month ago, I received notification from the New Jersey Department of Health that I could get vaccinated.  I started looking online to find a vaccine appointment.  What I found was there were no vaccine appointments to be had. And there’s lots of advice on Facebook on how to get an appointment such as by time of day and hitting the refresh button continuously on your screen until an appointment becomes available.

None of these strategies worked.  I continued to surf the web looking for available vaccination sites throughout New Jersey. Would I be willing to travel for an appointment?  How far would I be willing to travel for a vaccine?  It all started feeling a little desperate and a little ridiculous all at the same time.

One day, I noticed on the Atlantic County website that vaccine appointments would open up the next day at 6pm.  Atlantic County is one of  six mega sites in New Jersey where residents can get vaccinated. As I was finishing dinner, I logged into the website and was given a number in the queue to get an appointment.  I found out I my number in line was 6718 so I felt there was no way I would get an appointment.  A few minutes later, the website indicated there were approximately 8000 appointments available.  I stayed on the website, making sure my screen would not shut down.  I didn’t want to lose my place in the virtual line.  About 90 minutes later, it was my turn to make my appointment.  I couldn’t believe it!  I had an appointment for the COVID vaccine in 4 days.

That’s when PANIC and FEAR set in.  I had lots of questions rolling around in my head.  Is this vaccine safe?  Will I have a reaction?  Is this really okay with my doctor to take the vaccine?  Will my medications interfere with the effectiveness of the vaccine?  What did my rheumatology nurse say about the vaccine? But, then I saw Dr. Fauci on tv stating that if you can get the vaccine, you should take it.  That’s all I needed to hear.  In Fauci, I trust!  The anxiety was still there but I knew it was the right thing to do.

Saturday morning was here and I was on my way to Atlantic City to the Convention Center to get my vaccine.  The Convention Center vaccine mega site is operated and organized through Atlanticare Health System and the NJ National Guard.  I was impressed with the organization and the speed in which I was  processed through the vaccine appointment.  Before I knew it, I was vaccinated and sitting in an observation area waiting to schedule my next appointment.  Round 1 completed.

Now that I received the first dose of the vaccine, my next worry was the side effects.  As you watch the news and read articles, you learn there are a variety of symptoms after taking the vaccine.  Some mild symptoms to some very unpleasant symptoms.  Most people report they had no side effects after their first dose of the vaccine but the second dose is when you feel the side effects. 

After my first dose, my arm felt sore.  The next day, I woke up feeling sick.  I had a headache, body aches, fatigue and no appetite.  I rested in bed most of the day.  The next day, I was better.  But a few days after that, I had fatigue again.  I’m not sure if this was related to the vaccine or my “normal” symptoms.  Over a week after my first vaccine, I am feeling well.  However, I am concerned about any symptoms I may have after the 2^nd dose being that the 1^st dose was a little tricky.  In the scheme of things, while these side effects may be unpleasant, it is much better than having to battle COVID.

I’ll keep you posted in my next blog about how my 2^nd dose went.  I also share my reflections on vaccine access for all, including the senior citizen population.