Day 1: Vaccine Report
So as some of you know, I got dose #1 of the COVID vaccine yesterday! My office was very fortunate to be so early in the line for vaccines. Many of us received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine yesterday, and we have our next dose scheduled for February 5th, which is 28 days after the first dose.
I figured I’d document how I’m feeling through this process, since there is some apprehension about the vaccines. Feel free to share this with whomever! I am definitely a proponent of getting this vaccine, and if there’s anyone out there who needs some reassurance, I would love to provide that. Alright, here we go!
About the Moderna Vaccine
I received the Moderna vaccine, which is one of the two approved vaccines in the U.S. right now. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines, which I explain about in a previous blog post. Both vaccines are also two doses, with the Pfizer doses being 21 days apart and the Moderna being 28 days apart.
The Moderna vaccine is reported to be about 80-90% effective after the first dose, and 94.5% effective after the second dose. While it may seem like we only need one dose of the vaccine given the post first dose effectiveness, no one knows how long that immunity lasts. It is thought that after the first dose, the immunity only lasts a few weeks, which is why the second dose is necessary.
Typically, immunity takes about two-weeks post dose to build, as your body makes antibodies and learns to fight the virus. Needless to say, regardless of being vaccinated yesterday, I will continue to be very careful and wear my mask.
Day Of Vaccine
Yesterday, we went into the vaccine clinic after work for our scheduled appointments. In New York, for non-hospital affiliated healthcare workers, there was an appointment portal where we had to sign up for a vaccine time/location.
Once we got there, we filled out a short form and signed a consent form. The staff then verified our employment (we needed to bring proof of employment to show we worked in healthcare) and our information. The staff then scheduled us in for the next dose. We were then placed in a waiting room. One by one we were called in for our shot. We were given information on the vaccine we were getting as well as a bag with our vaccine card, vaccine info, a button, and a sticker.
The nurse then prepared the needle, which was a standard size needle much like that of the flu shot. I asked the nurse, because I wanted to document the moment, if I could take a selfie while he did the injection. He was very happy to oblige, and told me as he was injecting so I could get the perfect shot. Below is the shot I managed to get.
The Shot
Anyone that knows me knows that I am a big baby when it comes to shots. I hate them, and I usually have to close my eyes or clench my fists when I get them. This, however, was incredibly easy. I honestly didn’t feel it.
After, they had me wait 15 minutes in the waiting room to ensure I didn’t have any adverse reactions or allergic reactions. Once that period was over, I was free to go.
Last Night/Today
So far so good! My arm hurt the most last night. It definitely wasn’t anything super painful, but I wouldn’t try to lift weights the night of the shot. The pain was more than what I felt after the flu shot, but I would say it felt comparable to soreness from a tough workout: totally manageable. I took two Advil before sleeping, just so it wouldn’t bother me too much since it was a little hard to put pressure on my left side (and I am a side sleeper).
This morning, my arm hurts way less. When I lift it, I can tell I got a shot in the arm, but it’s not pain that would prohibit me from doing anything. I definitely won’t be doing any push-ups today, but other than that I would say all is well. No other symptoms to report right now!